DEFENCE

HMS Invincible

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the refit of HMS Invincible will be completed; when she will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 342W, to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray).

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the results from the review of the MOD police and the Atomic Energy Police will be announced.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 18 December 2001, Official Report, columns 176–77W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer). Stage 1 of the Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review was completed last year and a copy of the Stage 1 report was placed in the Library of the House. Stage 2 has now commenced and will be completed as soon as possible. Issues relating to the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Police

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MOD police officers and staff there were in January (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002.

Lewis Moonie: The staff figures for the Ministry of Defence Police Agency for the years 1999 to 2002 were as follows:
	
		
			  Police Civilian 
		
		
			 1 January 1999 3,625 240 
			 1 January 2000 3,568 271 
			 1 January 2001 3,449 273 
			 1 January 2002 3,328 263

Police

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Defence Police Federation on the size of the MOD police establishment since 11 September; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: No discussions have taken place between Ministry of Defence Ministers and the Defence Police Federation regarding the size of the MOD police establishment since the events of 11 September. MOD police strength, however, is kept under constant review in the light of calls on the resources of the force.

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vehicle the Chief Constable of the MOD police uses.

Lewis Moonie: The Chief Constable Ministry of Defence Police currently has the use of a Ford Scorpio. The vehicle is a force asset and can be utilised for other requirements.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training operations have taken place in Gibraltar in the last three years.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 740W, to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray).

Wind Turbines

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources have been made available to his Department for the fulfilment of its obligations under PPG 22 in advising district councils during the process of the issue of planning consent for an onshore wind turbine.

Lewis Moonie: No specific additional resources have been made available to the Ministry of Defence to enable them to assess onshore or offshore wind turbine proposals.
	The consultation procedure mentioned in PPG 22 is known as Safeguarding. This is a statutorily based system whereby local planning authorities are required to consult the Defence Estates Safeguarding (DE Safeguarding) team on planning applications for development near to certain sites such as aerodromes, explosives storage areas or communications facilities. Safeguarding ensures that no development occurs that would interfere with the safety or effectiveness of military operations. There is no statutory obligation for the local planning authorities to consult DE Safeguarding on developments outside Safeguarded areas. However, as it is now widely recognised that wind turbines may interfere with radar, communication aids and low flying anywhere in the UK, the Safeguarding team is routinely included in consultations.
	Defence Estates Safeguarding section acts as a focal point to co-ordinate the MOD response to both informal proposals from the wind energy industry and formal planning applications from local planning authorities. There are 10 technical advisers within the MOD who are consulted by Defence Estates on wind turbines proposals, all of whom undertake the assessment of the impact of the proposals in addition to their operational duties.

EU-NATO Co-ordination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the co-ordination required between the Helsinki Initiative in the European Union and the Defence Capabilities Initiative in NATO countries; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Coherence and transparency between the two initiatives is very good and improvements achieved under either will be mutually beneficial. NATO experts have been closely involved with EU colleagues in work to elaborate, identify and address the capabilities required for the Headline Goal. A large proportion of the capability requirements identified under European Security and Defence Policy, including those where shortfalls remain, are also being addressed by the Defence Capabilities Initiative.

Petersberg Tasks

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action will be taken to improve the level of enabling forces and weapons which are required to meet the Petersberg Tasks prior to 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Under the Helsinki Headline Goal, EU member states are to be able, by 2003, to deploy and sustain for at least a year up to 60,000 personnel, with air and naval support as necessary, capable of conducting the full spectrum of Petersberg Tasks.
	At a Capabilities Commitment Conference in November 2000 and the further Capabilities Improvement Conference in November 2001, member states contributed a wide range of forces and capabilities to this target. Member states have also agreed to put in place a European Capabilities Action Plan to address remaining shortfalls based on voluntary efforts and building on existing national and multinational initiatives. This work is now being pursued under the Spanish Presidency.

Petersberg Tasks

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the upper range of possible Petersberg Tasks; what consultation there has been with other EU countries on Petersberg Tasks since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Petersberg Tasks, as defined at the Western European Council of Ministers in Bonn in June 1992 and subsequently adopted by the EU in the treaty of Amsterdam are: humanitarian and rescue tasks; peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking. It is impractical to define precisely the upper range of such operations, as this will change depending on the circumstances at the time. The work carried out since Helsinki to elaborate the requirements of the Headline Goal has included as a working assumption a potential use of EU-led forces to separate warring factions.

Aircraft Carriers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the three aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: Both HMS Ark Royal and Illustrious will continue in service into the next decade until the two new aircraft carriers enter service. HMS Invincible, the oldest ship of the class, will retire from service towards the end of this decade.

Battle of Trafalgar

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government are making to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence is working closely with a number of organisations to develop the Royal Navy's plans for the commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005. Led by the Official Nelson Celebrations Committee, which brings together the interests of a wide range of maritime museums and associations connected with the Nelson heritage, a national and international programme of cultural and commemorative events is being discussed, among which a number of events involving the RN are being considered but, at this stage, it is too early to be precise.

Fraud

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1 May 1997 of fraud; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The reported estimated cost to the Department of fraud since 1 April 1997 is £4,666,853.
	No abatement is made for subsequent recoveries. The figure relates to a combination of suspected and proven frauds and thefts with estimated values refined from time to time as investigations, sometimes lasting a year or more, reach a conclusion. A significant element of estimated cost or value in any given year relates to initial "at risk" estimates applied to suspected procurement fraud. The majority of these are resolved as "no crime" or have a proven value significantly lower than original estimates.

West Freugh Airfield

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the development opportunities that would be made possible by commercial development of West Freugh airfield in Wigtownshire.

Lewis Moonie: The opportunities for commercial development of West Freugh airfield in Wigtownshire have been assessed several times in recent years. In each case, it has been concluded that there are few commercial opportunities for development of the airfield.

Defence Contracts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence contracts are out to tender; and what the estimated value of each contract is.

Lewis Moonie: The tender process is continuous and the Ministry of Defence awards a total of about 40,000 contracts worth about £8 billion per annum. Information on tenders outstanding at any given time is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tungsten Armour Piercing Round

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what effect the decision to purchase a tungsten armour piercing round will have on existing use of depleted uranium rounds; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what factors contributed to his decision to procure a tungsten armour piercing round; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence already has tungsten armour piercing rounds which are used by Challenger 2 tanks. The further purchase of tungsten ammunition has been proposed for the test and calibration firing of Challenger 2 tanks. Such a buy would have no effect on the use of depleted uranium rounds, since the rounds are used in different roles. The Charm 3 round, which incorporates a depleted uranium penetrator, is a war fighting round, while the tungsten rounds are used in the calibration of the Challenger 2 weapons system.

QinetiQ

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to float QinetiQ.

Lewis Moonie: There has been no change from the policy described in the DERA PPP consultation document published in April 2000. Our preference is to seek a flotation on the stockmarket as soon as QinetiQ's potential is suitably developed and as soon as we can ensure best value for the taxpayer. As identified in the consultation document, and subsequent statements on the way forward, we have kept open the option of seeking a strategic partner for the business as an intermediate step.
	We have emphasised throughout this process that the precise timing and nature of the transaction will be dependent on value for money considerations and this continues to be the case.

Gurkhas

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many special arrangements are in place to pay pensions to retired Gurkhas who are sick or disabled;
	(2)  if he will review the tri-partite agreement between the UK, India and Nepal to increase the pension paid to retired Gurkhas.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the then Minister for the Armed Forces completed a thorough review of Gurkha pensions and gratuities only two years ago. The outcome was a significant improvement in the payments made as a result of a death in service, which brought death in service gratuities for Gurkhas to the level of comparable British Army service personnel, and increases to pension payments of at least 100 per cent.
	Gurkha pensions are not paid at the same rates as British service men as the context in which they are paid is very different. Discharge in Nepal, and the link to Indian Army rates is the basis on which the Gurkhas serve. The levels of pension paid to our Gurkhas reflect the cost of living in Nepal, where they are discharged. Gurkha pensions now compare favourably to professional salaries there. They are also paid earlier than that of a British soldier. Gurkhas receive their pension at the end of their 15 years of service rather than the 22 years required of their British counterparts. In addition, up to 100 per cent. of the Gurkha pension can be passed on as a family pension to a soldier's widow until her death or remarriage and then to unmarried children up to the age of 25 years.
	Sick or disabled Gurkha pensioners are able to nominate an individual, usually a family member or friend, to collect their pensions in cash from one of the three pension paying offices in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Itahari, or from one of the 24 Area Welfare Centres situated throughout Nepal. A significant number of sick and disabled Gurkha pensioners choose to receive their pension this way, but it is impossible to identify the precise number without making manual checks to over 25,000 pension records. The information could, therefore, be provided only at disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Civil Servants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people were employed in his Department in each of the last four years.

Ben Bradshaw: The numbers of staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are shown in table C of Civil Service Statistics 2000, published on 31 August 2001. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Scottish Executive Officers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Scottish Executive Officers who work internationally under arrangements reached between the Scotland Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office report to the Scotland Office; and how many of them are accorded diplomatic status.

Jack Straw: Scottish Executive Officers work internationally under the arrangements agreed in the Concordat on International Relations. The Framework for co-operation is between the devolved Administrations and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Accordingly, Scottish Executive Officers report to both. The FCO has assisted the Scottish Executive to set up an office in Brussels and has given five staff in Scottish Executive EU Office diplomatic status. The Scottish Executive Officer in the British Embassy in Washington also has diplomatic status.

Zimbabwe

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Zimbabwe authorities regarding the treatment of members of the foreign and domestic press.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a strong statement on 24 November expressing his concern at the comments of the Zimbabwean Government spokesman which implied that foreign and local journalists were assisting terrorists. The British High Commissioner in Zimbabwe made formal representations to the Foreign Ministry in Harare on 26 November, and wrote to the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister the same day, expressing the British Government's deep concern at threats to the independent media in Zimbabwe.
	We have since taken every opportunity to reiterate this concern. Others share our concerns. The European Union has made the issue central to its formal consultations with the Zimbabwe Government under the Cotonou Agreement. Freedom of the media is a key element of recently-passed United States Congressional legislation on Zimbabwe. And Commonwealth Ministers issued a strong statement of concern about the situation in Zimbabwe at their meeting in London on 20 December, including the pressures on the independent media in that country.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with the Home Office concerning the deportation of Gerald Mutekiwa (a) before his deportation and (b) after his deportation.

Jack Straw: The Foreign Office provides the Home Office with regular political reporting on Zimbabwe. The Home Office leads on asylum policy. The Home Office did not discuss Mr. Mutekiwa's case with the Foreign Office before his deportation. Following allegations that Mr. Mutekiwa had been mistreated on his return to Zimbabwe, the Home Office asked the British High Commission in Harare to investigate the allegations. It is doing so.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the treatment of Gerald Mutekiwa by Zimbabwean security police after being deported from the United Kingdom.

Jack Straw: I have received reports yet to be substantiated that Mr. Mutekiwa was mistreated on his return to Zimbabwe. The British High Commission is currently investigating.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department is taking to ensure the security of persons deported from Britain to Zimbabwe.

Jack Straw: The Home Office are responsible for asylum policy. The Foreign Office, the British High Commission in Harare and the Home Office are in regular contact about the overall security situation in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with British representatives in Zimbabwe concerning the security of persons deported to Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom.

Jack Straw: We are in on-going contact with the British High Commission in Harare about the overall security situation in Zimbabwe and, as appropriate, about how this might relate to individuals.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last spoke to the President of Malawi concerning the situation in Zimbabwe.

Jack Straw: I discussed the situation in Zimbabwe with President Muluzi on 9 January.

Zimbabwe

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe about the medical condition of Mr. Fletcher Dulini-Neube MP.

Ben Bradshaw: None.

Nepal

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the importance of the United Kingdom helping to maintain stability in Nepal.

Ben Bradshaw: We believe that a stable Nepal is not only important to the United Kingdom, but also to the region and the greater international community. The UK will therefore look carefully at requests from Nepal to help maintain stability.

Nepal

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is in respect of supporting the Government of Nepal against Maoist terrorism.

Ben Bradshaw: We believe that the Nepalese Government have a duty to protect their citizens. The UK, which has a long history as a friend of Nepal, will look carefully at any requests for assistance from the Nepalese Government.

Nepal

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his assessment of the political situation in Nepal.

Ben Bradshaw: Nepal is currently under a state of emergency, which was declared by King Gyanendra on 26 November. Certain constitutional freedoms have been suspended.
	We supported Prime Minister Deuba's attempts to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Maoist insurgency, and we have condemned the Maoists' return to violence. The current situation is serious, and we are monitoring events carefully.

Nepal

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect on neighbouring states of political instability in Nepal.

Ben Bradshaw: Although serious, we do not believe the current situation in Nepal will have a significant destabilising impact on her neighbours, India and China.

Nepal

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of possible links between Maoist terrorists in Nepal and other terrorist organisations.

Ben Bradshaw: We are aware that, through its membership of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM) and the newly formed Co-ordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia (CCOMPASA), the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has links with other Maoist organisations in the region and further afield. We do not have any indication that they have links other, non-Maoist, terrorist organisations.

India-Pakistan Relations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the (a) Indian and (b) Pakistan Governments concerning the recent terrorist attacks on the Indian Parliament.

Jack Straw: I have been in regular contact with my Indian and Pakistani counterparts since the appalling attack against the Indian Parliament on 13 December. I continue to urge both sides to work to resolve the issues between them through dialogue.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999, and how many of them related to special advisers.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 9 January 2002
	The procedures for making complaints under the Civil Service Code or the Diplomatic Service Code are set out in Departmental Regulations. Staff are encouraged, in the first instance, to raise complaints made under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code with their line manager. If for any reason this is not felt to be possible, individuals may take their complaint to a member of a Selection Board. It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the number of complaints made within this Department under paragraph 11 of the code as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre details of complaints made under the Civil Service Code or Diplomatic Service Code which are resolved within the management line.

Remuneration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of individuals in his (a) Department, (b) related agencies and (c) related non-departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000 and (ii) £200,000 in each of the last four years.

Jack Straw: (a) The estimated number of individuals in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office whose annual remuneration is in excess of £100,000 is as follows:
	As at 1 April 1998: 9
	As at 1 April 1999: 11
	As at 1 April 2000: 12
	As at 1 April 2001: 15.
	(b) The estimated number of individuals in related agencies whose annual remuneration is in excess of £100,000 is as follows:
	As at 1 April 1998: 0
	As at 1 April 1999: 0
	As at 1 April 2000: 0
	As at 1 April 2001: 0.
	(c) The estimated number of individuals in related non- departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration is in excess of £100,000 is as follows:
	As at 1 April 1998: 0
	As at 1 April 1999: 0
	As at 1 April 2000: 0
	As at 1 April 2001: 1.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, related agencies and related non-departmental public bodies have no individuals whose annual remuneration exceeded £200,000 in each of the last four years.
	Annual remuneration includes basic salary and London allowances. It does not include pension benefits.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the hon. Member for West Chelmsford will be sent a reply to his letter of 3 September 2001 on his constituent Mrs. J. Chukwrah of Chelmsford.

Ben Bradshaw: I am extremely sorry that the hon. Member did not receive a reply to his letter of 3 September. This was the result of an administrative error. The case he raised is now under consideration and I will write to him about it as soon as possible.

Correspondence

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the hon. Member for Spelthorne will receive replies to his letters to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate about his constituent Mrs. E. Couser dated 10 June, 2 July, 23 July, 8 August, 21 November and 21 December.

Ben Bradshaw: The correspondence to which the hon. Member refers was not forwarded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Joint Entry Clearance Unit by the Home Office. Officials from JECU have contacted the hon. Member and I will reply to his letter as soon as possible.

Departmental Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: The Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism. The report for 2000 will be published shortly. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to reducing sickness absence, as set out in our service delivery agreement.

Afghanistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obstacles exist to the International Committee of the Red Cross having access to all prisoners being held within Afghanistan.

Peter Hain: Very few. As at 11 January 2002, ICRC delegates were visiting some 4,800 detainees in approximately 40 places of detention throughout Afghanistan. In recent days, the ICRC has had problems gaining access to detainees held at Bagram airport and difficulty in gaining access to a place of detention in Kabul. However, contacts are continuing between the ICRC and the authorities in an effort to resolve these outstanding concerns.

Iraq

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obstacles there are to supplying humanitarian aid to Iraq under the United Nations oil-for-food programme.

Ben Bradshaw: As well as failing to spend around $3.5 billion set aside by the UN for humanitarian purchases under "oil for food", the Iraqi Central bank consistently holds up delivery of $1 billion worth of goods already approved by the UN. The UN Secretary General has repeatedly drawn attention to Iraq's refusal to implement crucial UN proposals, such as the introduction of a local cash component, which would play a critical role in the rehabilitation of vital sectors, including water and sanitation and health. In his latest report on "oil for food" (November 2001), the Secretary General criticised the Government of Iraq for also obstructing the implementation of the programme in northern Iraq, by refusing to grant visas for UN personnel and clearance for essential supplies, including demining equipment, for the Iraqi people.

Colombia

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he received from the Colombian Government to his representations about the situation in Barrancabermeja and Magdalena Medio.

Denis MacShane: During my visit to Barrancabermeja in October last year, I learned that Government security forces had greatly enhanced their presence, including, for a brief period, putting members of the special forces on the streets to restore order. They have also enhanced their intelligence-gathering capability in the town. These measures resulted in the capture of an alleged senior paramilitary commander, Fremio Sanchez Carreno. The security forces have captured other prominent paramilitaries in recent months.
	I remain concerned about the violence still being perpetrated by the illegal armed groups in Magdalena Medio and elsewhere. We shall continue to raise our concern about human rights, and urge the Colombian Government to take additional appropriate measures to protect vulnerable groups, in particular trade unionists and human rights defenders.

Cambodia

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Cambodian Government about the expulsion of Senator Chhang Song, Senator Phay Siphan and Senator Pou Savath, from the Cambodian Senate.

Ben Bradshaw: We understand that the decision to expel the senators from the Cambodian Senate resulted from an internal dispute in the Cambodian People's Party. It was therefore not appropriate to make representations to the Cambodian Government. However, our ambassador in Phnom Penh regularly raises with the Cambodian authorities the need for reform of the Cambodian legislature and legal system.

St. Helena

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make an announcement concerning the granting of British Citizenship to residents of St. Helena; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The British Overseas Territories Bill granting British citizenship to the residents of St. Helena and the other Overseas Territories is currently going through the parliamentary process. Following Royal Assent a Commencement Order will be made by the Secretary of State when he is satisfied that practical arrangements for implementation of the Bill are in place.

Justice and Home Affairs Council

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 855W, on agendas for meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, for how many (a) council meetings and (b) Justice and Home Affairs Council meetings in the last three months the provisional agenda was received by his Department 14 days or more before the beginning of the meeting; for how many of those meetings in each case there were subsequent changes to the agenda involving (i) items for discussion and (ii) A points; and how long before each of the last two Justice and Home Affairs Council meetings a final, definitive list of A points was received by his Department.

Peter Hain: The Council's rules of procedure require provisional agendas to be drawn up by the Presidency and sent to other members of the Council and the Commission at least 14 days before the beginning of each meeting of the Council of Ministers. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for the General Affairs Council; we do not keep records of the number of days before each meeting that agendas have been received or amended; nor of how many Council's agendas have subsequently been changed.
	There were Justice and Home Affairs Councils on 16 October, 16 November and 6–7 December, and a joint JHA/ECOFIN Council on 16 October. For three of these four Councils the B part of the agenda was issued 14 days or more before the Council, the exception being the JHA Council on 16 October. In each case where part B of the agenda was issued more than 14 days before a JHA Council or the JHA/ECOFIN Council, it was subsequently amended. For the three Councils concerned, the final agenda was available four days before the Council in one case and the day before the Council in the other two. On two occasions, the agenda was amended four times.
	In no case was an A point list issued 14 days in advance of a JHA Council. There were no A points at the JHA and JHA/ECOFIN Councils on 16 October. For the 16 November JHA Council, the first A point list was received the day before the Council and for the 6–7 December JHA Council the first A point list was received on 4 December.
	For the last two JHA Councils, the final definitive list of A points was issued by the Presidency the day before the Council in question.

Surjit Kaur Athwal

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2001, Official Report, column 504W what actions he has taken during 2001, and plans to take during 2002, in response to the disappearance of Surjit Kaur Athwal, a British citizen, in India in December 1998.

Ben Bradshaw: We continue to offer Surjit Athwal's family any assistance they may require in the search for Surjit. We have expressed our concerns about Mrs. Athwal's disappearance to the Indian authorities on numerous occasions at a high level. It is for the Indian authorities to investigate Mrs. Athwal's disappearance. We will continue to press the authorities to pursue their search.

Pacific Islands

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department's Ministers last officially visited Pacific Islands; and which ones.

Denis MacShane: My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle), visited the Pacific twice in 2000. He visited Papua New Guinea in June, and attended the annual Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum in Kiribati in October that year. While at the forum he had meetings with the Prime Ministers of Australia, New Zealand and Tonga, the President of Kiribati, the Foreign Ministers of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and with the Heads of the European Commission and French delegations. I plan to visit Pacific Islands later this year.

Golden Jubilee

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government facilities will be made available in the course of visits by Her Majesty the Queen during her Golden Jubilee year to Commonwealth countries and overseas territories.

Jack Straw: During her Golden Jubilee year, Her Majesty the Queen plans to visit Jamaica from 18–20 February, New Zealand from 22–27 February, Australia from 27 February to 3 March, and Canada from 4–15 October. She will also attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Coolum from 2–3 March.
	The facilities made available to, and the associated costs of, these Realm visits are primarily the responsibility of the countries concerned. The UK Government will provide some logistical and financial support in London and the countries visited.

Golden Jubilee

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he has given to the celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Governor, in consultation with the Government of Gibraltar, is looking at a number of ways in which Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee might suitably be marked in Gibraltar. These include a Birthday Parade and Trooping of the Colour, a gun salute and a tree planting ceremony.

Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 2001, Official Report, column 468W, what assessment he has made of the analysis of the risks posed to Sellafield from terrorist intervention as set out by the authors of the European Parliament's scientific and technological options assessment programme study to which he refers.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	None. In my reply of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 666W, I made it clear that the chairman of the STOA panel took note of the Wise-Paris study and decided to publish it as a first contribution to the scientific debate on the possible toxic effects from the nuclear processing plants in Sellafield and Cap de la Hague. The study did not look into possible risks that may be posed from terrorists. Stringent security and safety precautions are taken at all UK civil nuclear sites and are kept under regular review.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Debt Cancellation

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether she will list the developing country debts which have been cancelled since May 1997, broken down by country and by year of cancellation; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Since 1978, the UK has cancelled its aid loans to all the poorest countries worth some £1.2 billion. Table 1 lists, by country and year, all scheduled aid payments that have been waived since April 1997. Payments are written off as they become due. The position of the loan with Belize is under annual review. They have failed to qualify for debt relief under the Commonwealth Debt Initiative and are being asked to recommence payments. The Antigua and Barbuda loans were waived for a specified period only to help with the resettlement of Montserrat citizens following the volcanic eruptions.
	The remaining debts are owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD). For some developing countries, payments are being written off through the Paris Club for Official Bilateral Creditors. For countries qualifying for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, much of their Paris Club debt is written off. In December 1999, the UK Government announced that we would provide 100 per cent. debt relief on all ECGD debt for qualifying HIPC countries to free up more resources for poverty reduction. Table 2 sets out, by country and year, all developing countries debts to ECGD that have been written off since May 1997.
	
		Table 1: Development debts cancelled since 1 April 1997 (by financial year)
		
			   1997–98  1998–99  1999–2000  2000–01  
			  Principal Interest Principal Interest Principal Interest Principal Interest 
		
		
			 Botswana 739,634 — 326,503 — 118,403 — 23,578 — 
			 Egypt 962,400 12,547 617,868 2,097 406,400 — 406,400 — 
			 Ethiopia 153,210 — 85,132 — — — — — 
			 Gambia 112,000 — 54,700 — — — — — 
			 Ghana 2,364,462 11,243 2,364,462 7,782 2,364,461 4,320 1,736,551 — 
			 Ivory Coast 216,999 55,490 216,861 52,224 215,705 45,030 215,705 39,872 
			 Kenya 204,617 2,502 — — — — — — 
			 Liberia — — — — 81,558 696 — — 
			 Malawi 671,400 — 435,800 — 168,000 — 132,000 — 
			 Mauritius 191,850 — 383,700 22,803 174,091 22,308 45,600 14,214 
			 Mozambique 1,250,600 — 1,250,600 — 1,250,600 — 1,250,600 — 
			 Senegal 56,000 7,406 56,000 6,287 56,000 4,166 56,000 4,046 
			 Sierra Leone 73,200 — 16,558 — — — — — 
			 Sudan 342,000 — 289,972 — — — — — 
			 Zambia 2,605,500 369,240 2,577,565 318,253 2,549,200 267,269 2,549,200 216,285 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 535,710 — 357,140 — 357,140 — — — 
			 Barbados 38,700 — 38,700 9,906 38,700 7,584 38,700 5,262 
			 Belize — — 1,145,924 — 1,458,448 — — — 
			 Bolivia 81,556 — — — — — — — 
			 Dominica 270,500 — 541,000 — 541,000 — 541,000 — 
			 Grenada 1,257,200 — 625,200 — 625,200 — 371,796 — 
			 Guyana 826,200 1,669,480 1,765,943 1,643,234 3,011,990 1,525,021 3,452,642 1,364,724 
			 Honduras 280,000 — 280,000 — 373,333 — 373,333 — 
			 Jamaica — — 5,372,077 1,923,011 3,862,234 1,653,682 3,060,712 1,452,483 
			 Nicaragua 36,200 — 5,506 — — — — — 
			 Peru 204,600 136,049 194,149 150,873 168,439 145,552 146,630 140,780 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis — — — — 287,900 — — — 
			 St. Lucia — — 333,400 — 333,400 — 333,400 — 
			 TCI 82,564 18,565 165,128 32,923 165,128 27,890 165,128 22,857 
			 Afghanistan 33,340 — 33,340 — 29,170 — 25,000 — 
			 Bangladesh 559,285 — 433,400 — 292,451 — — — 
			 India 11,416,827 — 7,747,819 — 2,432,000 — — — 
			 Indonesia 871,024 — 620,224 — — — — — 
			 Jordan 3,725,173 386,614 2,263,434 333,785 1,515,700 280,957 1,451,200 228,129 
			 Laos 2,670 — 2,670 — 1,275 — — — 
			 Pakistan 1,593,312 — 1,425,012 — 750,665 — — — 
			 Solomon Islands — — 2,544,120 — 277,800 — 277,800 — 
			 Sri Lanka 259,915 — 167,000 — 76,200 — — — 
			 Tonga 65,600 — 131,300 — 82,400 — 82,400 — 
			 Western Somao 9,400 — 6,591 — — — — — 
			  
			  32,093,648 2,669,136 34,874,798 4,503,178 24,064,991 3,984,475 16,735,375 3,488,652 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Developing country debts to ECGD written off since 1 May 1997 -- £ million
		
			   Amounts written off  
			 Country 1997(1) 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Bolivia 0.000 6.492 0.000 0.000 12.305 
			 Bosnia 0.000 3.221 0.000 0.000 0.000 
			 Cameroon 4.741 2.706 3.151 5.056 9.168 
			 Central African Republic 0.000 0.156 0.044 0.028 0.013 
			 Cote D'Ivoire 1.142 2.817 1.166 0.000 0.000 
			 Egypt 2.350 0.980 0.000 0.000 0.000 
			 Ethiopia 0.000 0.000 0.288 0.518 0.228 
			 Guinea Republic 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.115 0.519 
			 Guyana 0.000 0.000 12.502 0.000 0.000 
			 Madagascar 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.187 1.297 
			 Malawi 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.096 
			 Mauritania 0.109 0.054 0.661 0.526 0.531 
			 Mozambique 3.627 5.386 12.447 0.000 78.541 
			 Niger 0.213 0.313 0.338 0.715 1.229 
			 Senegal 0.000 1.529 0.000 0.015 0.051 
			 Tanzania 1.977 4.617 5.570 18.144 15.121 
			 Togo 0.484 0.288 0.000 0.000 0.000 
			 Uganda 0.000 8.684 0.000 5.958 0.000 
			 Zambia 0.000 0.000 20.740 16.871 15.938 
			  
			 Total 14.643 37.243 56.907 48.133 135.037 
		
	
	(1) From 1 May 1997
	Note:
	This table includes 100 per cent. debt relief for those countries which have reached completion point under the HIPC Debt initiative.

Development Assistance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of overseas aid expenditure per capita in developing countries in each year since 1990; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Official development assistance (ODA) per capita for all donors combined is given in the table. This shows a decline from US$14.1 in 1990 to a low of US$10.4 per capita in 1997, followed by a rise to US$11.0 per capita in 1999, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		US$ 
		
			  Per capita ODA 
		
		
			 1990 14.1 
			 1991 14.8 
			 1992 14.4 
			 1993 13.0 
			 1994 13.6 
			 1995 13.1 
			 1996 12.3 
			 1997 10.4 
			 1998 10.8 
			 1999 11.0 
		
	
	Source:
	OECD-Development Assistance Committee statistics
	The table shows figures in current prices for each year shown. The drop in per capita ODA is steeper if expressed in constant price terms.

Development Assistance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is her policy to raise overseas aid expenditure as a share of gross national product to the United Kingdom target of 0.7 to gross national product; by what date she expects to meet this target; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The Government are committed to the target of raising official development assistance to 0.7 per cent. of Gross National Income. Between 1974 and 1979 the proportion increased from 0.40 per cent. to 0.51 per cent. From 1980 to 1996 the figure fell to 0.27 per cent. Since 1996 we have raised official development assistance as a share of Gross National Income to 0.32 per cent. and are committed to reaching 0.33 per cent. by 2003–04. Progress after that will be decided in the current and subsequent spending rounds.

Development Assistance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on overseas development as a percentage of United Kingdom gross national product in each year from 1996–97 to 2003–04; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Official development assistance (ODA) is measured in calendar years. The UK ODA/GNI ratio for the calendar years from 1996 to 2000, the most recent for which data are available, is shown below.
	
		
			  UK ODA/GNI ratio 
		
		
			 1996 0.27 
			 1997 0.26 
			 1998 0.27 
			 1999 0.24 
			 2000 0.32 
		
	
	We remain fully committed to the UN 0.7 per cent. ODA/GNI target. We have set out our plans for the years to 2003–04 and, as these show, official development assistance as a proportion of GNI will rise to 0.33 per cent. in 2003–04. Initial estimates of DFID expenditure for 2001 indicate that the ratio will remain around 0.32.
	GNI (Gross National Income) is the new name for GNP. The name has been changed to better reflect the information included within the figure.

Development Assistance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on overseas development assistance in each of the poorest 20 countries in the world for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Total DFID bilateral expenditure in the poorest 20 countries in the world over the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		£000 
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Benin 30 0 88 82 37 
			 Burkina Faso 204 156 305 267 234 
			 Burundi 1,560 1,602 324 912 1,547 
			 Chad 142 153 — — 270 
			 Congo, Rep. 107 6,911 552 1,322 3,096 
			 Eritrea 1,210 1,200 868 438 2,385 
			 Ethiopia 7,931 7,357 8,733 6,969 16,194 
			 Guinea-Bissau 6 76 8 — 120 
			 Kenya 26,428 29,434 33,143 27,051 51,923 
			 Madagascar 399 487 410 943 561 
			 Malawi 33,554 25,693 47,251 46,687 56,941 
			 Mali 523 697 331 205 411 
			 Mozambique 22,198 21,943 26,281 43,893 41,281 
			 Niger 112 151 162 177 150 
			 Nigeria 7,866 9,345 11,215 14,596 17,123 
			 Rwanda 9,704 6,198 13,642 14,394 32,878 
			 Sierra Leone 10,619 3,133 8,948 29,914 35,022 
			 Tanzania 48,191 42,196 50,105 64,323 68,687 
			 Yemen, Rep. 1,975 1,049 1,048 1,488 2,647 
			 Zambia 17,399 16,183 14,807 14,293 55,934 
			  
			 Total 190,158 173,864 218,231 267,954 387,441 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistics on International Development 1996–97 to 2000–01
	This increase in the amount of UK aid spent on the poorest countries is in line with the Government's policy, set out in the 1997 White Paper on International Development, to refocus our efforts on the elimination of poverty. Poorest countries are defined as having the lowest GNI/capita in the most recent year for which data are available (1999).

Outstanding Debts

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the outstanding debts owed to the United Kingdom Government by developing countries, broken down by each country; how the total figure has changed since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The UK has written off all its aid loans to the poorest countries. At 1 April 1997, outstanding aid loans of £389,796,841 (principal £341,629,947; interest £48,166,894) owed by developing countries were included in DFID's accounts. By 31 March 2001, this figure had been reduced significantly to £201,835,945 (principal £192,833,981; interest £9,001,964). Table 1 shows, by country, the balance of outstanding aid loans at 1 April 1997 and at 31 March 2001. Bilateral agreements have been reached with all the countries shown in italic on waiving scheduled payments as they become due.
	Table 2 sets out, by country, the amount of principal Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) debt outstanding at 31 May 1997 and at 31 December 2001. The figures show a reduction in the residual balance from £1.746 billion to £1.355 billion respectively. Included in these figures are the debts owed by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), as shown in ECGD's accounts. However, under the Government's 100 per cent. bilateral debt relief policy, no further payments are required from these countries once they qualify for HIPC debt relief, and any amounts received are held in trust and, once they reach their HIPC Decision Point, are returned to the countries for poverty reduction.
	
		Table 1: Aid debt outstanding at 1 April 1997 and at 31 March 2001 -- £
		
			  Principal Interest 
		
		
			 Balance at 1 April 1997   
			 Afghanistan 132,700 — 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 2,758,448 — 
			 Bangladesh 1,285,136 — 
			 Barbados 213,470 38,534 
			 Belize 14,875,130 — 
			 Bolivia 11,658 — 
			 Botswana 1,219,906 — 
			 Brazil 2,329,338 572,259 
			 Cameroon 66,776 — 
			 Cayman Islands 303,158 — 
			 Columbia 439,985 5,012 
			 Costa Rica 1,891,912 215,713 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 2,549,746 324,005 
			 Cyprus 181,774 — 
			 Dominica 7,002,332 — 
			 Ecuador 9,643,482 4,205,444 
			 Egypt 4,943,629 10,644 
			 Ethiopia 238,341 — 
			 Falkland Islands 16,226 — 
			 Gambia 166,700 — 
			 Ghana 15,179,211 128,503 
			 Gibraltar 238,685 555 
			 Grenada 2,679,508 — 
			 Guyana 32,747,578 10,923,653 
			 Honduras 2,471,143 — 
			 India 21,596,646 — 
			 Indonesia 1,491,259 — 
			 Jamaica 44,391,246 15,996,191 
			 Jordan 28,491,054 1,565,752 
			 Kenya 216,226 11,261 
			 Laos 6,615 — 
			 Liberia 77,749 696 
			 Malawi 1,503,200 — 
			 Malaysia 3,911,559 525,755 
			 Mauritius 1,225,959 126,605 
			 Mozambique 5,910,104 — 
			 Nicaragua 439,906 — 
			 Nigeria 4,905,084 24,425 
			 Pakistan 3,616,377 — 
			 Paraguay 2,228,693 — 
			 Peru 5,533,790 1,635,351 
			 Philippines 3,696,288 243,078 
			 Senegal 412,330 32,450 
			 Seychelles 7,885,674 794,690 
			 Sierra Leone 89,438 — 
			 Sri Lanka 503,116 — 
			 Solomon Islands 2,400,300 — 
			 St. Kitts 3,022,870 — 
			 St. Lucia 3,166,300 — 
			 St. Vincent 3,684,000 — 
			 Sudan 631,972 — 
			 Swaziland 2,721,933 — 
			 Tonga 502,703 — 
			 Tunisia 26,661 394 
			 Turkey 29,462,755 7,987,136 
			 TCI 1,751,517 296,566 
			 Western Samoa 15,991 — 
			 Zambia 38,749,686 1,678,732 
			 Zimbabwe 13,605,329 823,490 
			  
			  341,629,947 48,166,894 
			
			 Balance at 31 March 2001   
			 Afghanistan 12,500 — 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 1,687,028 — 
			 Bangladesh — — 
			 Barbados 58,670 3,555 
			 Belize 10,499,785 — 
			 Bolivia — — 
			 Botswana 11,788 — 
			 Brazil 1,286,002 215,658 
			 Cameroon — — 
			 Cayman Islands 59,855 — 
			 Columbia 119,469 — 
			 Costa Rica 283,628 29,910 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 1,684,482 149,142 
			 Cyprus 100,174 — 
			 Dominica 4,706,732 — 
			 Ecuador 7,418,148 — 
			 Egypt 2,550,561 — 
			 Ethiopia — — 
			 Falkland Islands — — 
			 Gambia — — 
			 Ghana 6,071,474 — 
			 Gibraltar — — 
			 Grenada 432,113 — 
			 Guyana 23,690,803 4,721,195 
			 Honduras 1,164,476 — 
			 India — — 
			 Indonesia — — 
			 Jamaica 26,071,930 — 
			 Jordan 17,052,754 — 
			 Kenya — 7,975 
			 Laos — — 
			 Liberia — — 
			 Malawi 96,000 — 
			 Malaysia 1,846,759 114,004 
			 Mauritius 202,712 28,076 
			 Mozambique 907,703 — 
			 Nicaragua 398,200 — 
			 Nigeria 4,905,084 24,425 
			 Pakistan — — 
			 Paraguay 1,290,293 — 
			 Peru 4,851,901 — 
			 Philippines 1,375,335 122,570 
			 Senegal 160,329 — 
			 Seychelles 7,885,673 794,690 
			 Sierra Leone — — 
			 Sri Lanka — — 
			 Solomon Islands 1,289,100 — 
			 St. Kitts 2,734,970 — 
			 St. Lucia 1,832,700 — 
			 St. Vincent 3,026,000 — 
			 Sudan — — 
			 Swaziland 371,600 — 
			 Tonga 75,403 — 
			 Tunisia — — 
			 Turkey 16,089,505 2,420,778 
			 TCI 1,091,005 109,745 
			 Western Samoa — — 
			 Zambia 28,210,917 — 
			 Zimbabwe 9,229,420 260,241 
			  
			  192,833,981 9,001,964 
		
	
	
		Table 2: ECGD debt outstanding at 31 May 1997 and at -- 31 December 2001£ million
		
			  Residual balance  
			 Country 31 May 1997 31 December 2001 
		
		
			 Angola 56.432 56.432 
			 Benin 2.968 2.968 
			 Bolivia 18.810 0.000 
			 Bosnia 4.935 1.711 
			 Burkina Faso 1.031 1.031 
			 Cameroon 94.161 66.696 
			 Central African Republic 0.615 0.371 
			 Congo 159.111 159.111 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 35.795 30.445 
			 Croatia 93.830 74.894 
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 97.728 90.051 
			 Egypt 166.082 145.390 
			 Ethiopia 17.932 12.031 
			 Guinea Republic 4.643 3.609 
			 Guyana 47.192 34.348 
			 Kenya 54.853 21.369 
			 Liberia 7.276 7.276 
			 Macedonia 5.948 4.628 
			 Madagascar 29.774 27.662 
			 Malawi 0.767 0.497 
			 Mali 4.617 4.617 
			 Mauritania 8.611 6.163 
			 Mozambique 116.960 16.731 
			 Nicaragua 1.086 1.086 
			 Niger 12.073 9.265 
			 Senegal 3.302 1.697 
			 Sierra Leone 3.889 3.889 
			 Somalia 17.603 17.603 
			 Sudan 173.745 173.745 
			 Tanzania 161.431 112.959 
			 Togo 15.123 14.264 
			 Uganda 14.827 0.000 
			 Vietnam 10.421 10.359 
			 Yemen 9.624 3.071 
			 Zambia 293.565 240.016 
			  
			 Totals 1,746.760 1,355.985

Heavily Indebted Poor Countries

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of debt and interest repaid on UK Government development aid loans to heavily indebted poor countries each year since 1983.

Clare Short: The value of debt and interest repaid on aid loans to the UK by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) since 1983 is £5.292 million. Details of the amounts repaid by these countries, by year, from 1 April 1983, are shown in the table.
	In July 1978, bilateral agreements to write off all outstanding balances on loans were reached with Kenya, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Tanzania. Since then, we have written off all UK aid loans to Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia. In addition, my Department has taken the unilateral decision to forgive outstanding aid loans to Liberia and Laos. These loans are being written off as they become due.
	
		Amounts repaid by HIPC countries -- £000
		
			  Principal Interest 
		
		
			 1983–84 1,896 424 
			 1984–85 1,784 387 
			 1985–86 487 163 
			 1986–87 56 20 
			 1987–88 56 19 
			 1988–89 — — 
			 1989–90 — — 
			 1990–91 — — 
			 1991–92 — — 
			 1992–93 — — 
			 1993–94 — — 
			 1994–95 — — 
			 1995–96 — — 
			 1996–97 — — 
			 1997–98 — — 
			 1998–99 — — 
			 1999–2000 — — 
			 2000–01 4,279 1,013

Heavily Indebted Poor Countries

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK Government development aid in the form of loans to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries was (a) forgiven and (b) converted to gift in each year since 1983.

Clare Short: Since 1978, the Government have cancelled aid loans to all the poorest countries, not just the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). Since 1983, £142.714 million worth of aid loans, including interest accrued, has been forgiven for HIPC countries; details are set out, by year, in the table. In all cases, loans were converted to grants or "gifts".
	In July 1978, bilateral agreements to write off all outstanding balances on loans were reached with Kenya, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Tanzania. Since then, we have written off all UK aid loans to Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia. In addition, my Department has taken the unilateral decision to forgive outstanding aid loans to Liberia and Laos. These loans are being written off as they become due.
	
		Debt of HIPC countries forgiven -- £000
		
			  Principal Interest Total 
		
		
			 1983–84 — — — 
			 1984–85 142 — 142 
			 1985–96 1,881 330 2,211 
			 1986–87 3,217 412 3,629 
			 1987–88 3,021 265 3,286 
			 1988–89 3,604 235 3,839 
			 1989–90 3,504 196 3,700 
			 1990–91 30,609 534 31,143 
			 1991–92 10,205 569 10,774 
			 1992–93 8,065 393 8,458 
			 1993–94 7,879 437 8,316 
			 1994–95 7,298 434 7,732 
			 1995–96 7,366 460 7,826 
			 1996–97 7,055 417 7,472 
			 1997–98 9,598 748 10,346 
			 1998–99 8,964 1,975 10,939 
			 1999–2000 8,505 3,211 11,716 
			 2000–01 8,061 3,124 11,185 
			  
			  128,974 13,740 142,714

Heavily Indebted Poor Countries

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of UK development loans to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries outstanding (a) at 31 March 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Clare Short: The UK has written off all its aid loans to all the poorest countries. At 31 March 1997, outstanding development loans of £112,868,216 (principal £99,745,306; interest £13,122,910) to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) were included in DFID's accounts. By 31 March 2001, this figure had been reduced to £68,224,071 (principal £62,852,664; interest £5,371,407). Payments are written off as they become due.

Primary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the percentage of children in primary schools in the largest 30 recipient countries for United Kingdom overseas aid in the latest year for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Net primary school enrolment ratios indicate the number of children of official primary school age (as defined by the national education system) who are enrolled in primary school as a percentage of the population of official primary school age. Male and female ratios for the top 30 recipient countries of UK bilateral aid in financial year 2000–01 are shown. Data are taken from UNICEF's "The State of the World's Children, 2001" and refer to the most recent year available during the period 1995–99.
	
		Net primary school enrolment ratios -- Percentage
		
			 Recipient country Male Female 
		
		
			 India 78 64 
			 Uganda 92 83 
			 Ghana (2)82 (2)72 
			 Bangladesh 80 83 
			 Tanzania 56 57 
			 Malawi (3)100 (3)100 
			 Zambia 85 86 
			 Kenya (3)92 (3)89 
			 Mozambique 47 40 
			 Sierra Leone (2),(3)59 (2),(3)41 
			 Rwanda 67 68 
			 South Africa 88 86 
			 China 99 99 
			 Russian Federation (3)93 (3)93 
			 States of Ex-Yugoslavia (4)100 (4)100 
			 Montserrat (5)100 (5)100 
			 Indonesia 97 93 
			 Nepal 79 60 
			 Nigeria 38 33 
			 Ethiopia 43 28 
			 Serbia and Montenegro (3)69 (3)70 
			 Pakistan 84 60 
			 Guyana 89 84 
			 Zimbabwe 87 87 
			 St. Helena (5)100 (5)100 
			 Iraq 98 88 
			 Ukraine (2),(3)87 (2),(3)86 
			 West Bank Gaza n/a n/a 
			 Jamaica 89 87 
			 Bolivia (3)95 (3)87 
		
	
	(2) Gross primary school enrolment ratio (The number of children enrolled in primary school, regardless of age, as a percentage of the population of official primary school age).
	(3) Data refer to years other than those specified, differ from the standard definition or refers to only part of a country.
	(4) Bosnia and Herzegovina only.
	(5) Source: DFID.

Sleeping Sickness

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what specific assistance she gives to help combat the disease known as sleeping sickness; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary gave the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 838W.

Sustainable Fisheries Livelihood Project (West Africa)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution her Department has made to the sustainable fisheries livelihood project in West Africa.

Clare Short: The Department for International Development (DFID) agreed in 1998 to provide funds for a programme to address poverty in artisanal fisheries communities in 25 countries in West Africa. The programme is being implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in partnership with the countries of the region and DFID.
	The agreed financial contribution from my Department is £21.5 million to be disbursed over five years. To date, £5.5 million has been disbursed.
	DFID's contribution to the project is not restricted to funds. The project is one of the first to incorporate an explicit focus on the livelihoods of fisheries-dependent communities. DFID have provided a lead to the FAO and planners in the countries of the region in the development of more effective methods and strategies for enhancing the livelihoods of poor people. DFID-led thinking and practice are having a wide influence on the policies and practices of FAO and others, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development, who are being assisted by the project to apply the livelihoods approach to other national fisheries programmes in the region.

Sustainable Fisheries Livelihood Project (West Africa)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many meetings have taken place to discuss the sustainable fisheries livelihood project; and how much money has been spent on each meeting.

Clare Short: The sustainable livelihoods fisheries project is one of the first to adopt an explicit people- centred, livelihoods approach to fisheries-dependent communities. These communities are among the poorest in West Africa. As part of the project DFID is also seeking to influence FAO's own ways of working.
	Livelihoods approaches are participatory and communities are involved in decisions affecting their livelihoods. It is not possible to give an exact figure of the number of meetings held. They occur as part of the processes of design, appraisal, management, monitoring and review. They take place at local, national, regional and international levels. They vary in financial cost to the project from zero (when, for example, a local community meets to discuss its priorities and plans) to several thousands of pounds (when, for example, managers and national representatives come together each year to take strategic decisions). The meetings are held to address the objective of the project, which is the improvement of livelihoods in poor fisheries communities.

Sustainable Fisheries Livelihood Project (West Africa)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what activities have taken place as a result of the sustainable fisheries livelihood project in West Africa; and how they have benefited local communities.

Clare Short: A wide range of activities have taken place as a result of the project. At the level of policy, the project has prepared national strategies for poverty reduction in fisheries communities for Mali, Guinea and Guinea Bissau; has conducted analyses of the policies, institutions and processes which create and reinforce poverty in fisheries communities in Ghana and Senegal; and is developing general guidelines for reducing poverty in fisheries communities.
	In addition, the project is providing support to enhance livelihoods in fishing communities through numerous small projects. A table listing these projects has been placed in the Library of the House.

Population Growth

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates she has made of population growth in (a) developing countries and (b) low-income developing countries in each year since 1995; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department does not make estimates of world population growth. We take careful account of the population statistics provided by the United Nations which indicate that world population grew from 5.7 billion in 1995 to 6.1 billion in 2001, and is estimated to grow to over 9 billion by 2050. It is also estimated that all of the projected growth will take place in developing countries, which by 2050 will account for over 85 per cent. of world population.
	The Government believe that people should be able to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children. One of the priorities of my Department therefore is to help ensure that contraception is available to all men and women in the developing world who want it. 57 per cent. of the world's couples are now using contraception compared with 9 per cent. 30 years ago. Another of our major priorities therefore is to try to ensure that the millennium development goals of universal primary education by 2015, and gender equality in primary and secondary education by 2005 are achieved. Where this choice exists girls are more likely to receive an education, and go on to have fewer, healthier children.

Low Income Countries

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of bilateral country programme expenditure is directed to low income developing countries in the latest year for which information is available; if she will list the countries so defined as low income; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: In 2000–01, 76 per cent. of DFID's bilateral country programmes went to low income countries, compared to 65 per cent. in 1997–98. Excluding humanitarian assistance these figures were 78 per cent. and 67 per cent. Under internationally agreed definitions, low income countries are those with a GNP/GNI per capita in 1998 of below $760. There are currently 63 countries defined as low income and these are listed in "Statistics on International Development" (SID), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
	We are committed to increasing further the concentration on low income countries. Our current public service agreement includes a target of 80 per cent. in 2002–03 for the share of the bilateral country programme, excluding humanitarian assistance, going to low income countries.

PRIME MINISTER

Council of Europe/Western European Union

Terry Rooney: To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the full composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union.

Tony Blair: The United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Western European Union is as follows:
	Tony Lloyd Esq. MP (Leader)
	Full Representatives
	David Atkinson Esq. MP
	Malcolm Bruce Esq. MP
	Sir Sydney Chapman MP
	Tom Cox Esq. MP
	James Cran Esq. MP
	Terry Davis Esq. MP
	Bill Etherington Esq. MP
	Paul Flynn Esq. MP
	Lord Judd
	Baroness Knight of Collingtree DBE
	Jim Marshall Esq. MP
	Chris McCafferty MP
	Kevin McNamara Esq. MP
	Eddie O'Hara Esq. MP
	Lord Russell-Johnston
	John Wilkinson Esq. MP
	Jimmy Wray Esq. MP
	Substitute Members
	Janet Anderson MP
	Tony Banks Esq. MP
	Baroness Billingham
	Lord Burlison
	Ann Cryer MP
	Michael Hancock Esq. CBE MP
	Baroness Hooper
	Right hon. Lord Kilclooney
	Khalid Mahmood Esq. MP
	David Marshall Esq. MP
	Alan Meale Esq. MP
	Gordon Prentice Esq. MP
	Geraldine Smith MP
	Lord Tomlinson
	Dr. Rudi Vis MP
	Robert Walter Esq. MP.

Honours

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 815W, whether a finding by the House of Lords Judicial Committee against an individual formerly awarded an honour, that the individual concerned was guilty of political corruption in the conduct of local government sufficient to lead to a substantial surcharge and disqualification from holding office, can amount to an offence which brings the honours system into disrepute sufficient to consider forfeiture of that honour; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

Policy Unit

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many applicants there were for the post of transport adviser in the No. 10 Policy Unit;
	(2)  if he will set out the procedure used in the appointment of Matthew Elson as transport adviser in the No. 10 Policy Unit.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 90W.

Policy Unit

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the remit of the No. 10 Policy Unit on transport policy.

Tony Blair: The Policy Directorate within No. 10 covers domestic policy, including transport.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Women's Football

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Football Association and (b) Sport England on the funding and promotion of women's football.

Richard Caborn: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I, have specifically discussed the funding and promotion of women's football with the Football Association (FA) or Sport England. However, DCMS officials are working closely with the FA and the FA Women's Professional League Project Team to raise the profile of women's football in this country.

National Stadium

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from those backing the bid for a national stadium located in Coventry; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 14 January 2002
	Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have received many written representations for and against potential locations for the national stadium, including Coventry, in recent months. The statement made by my right hon. Friend to the House on 19 December 2001, Official Report, columns 291–93, set out the Government's position on the national stadium.

Football Supporters Trusts

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many football clubs have set up supporters trusts since July 2000; how many are planned; and how many supporters directors have been appointed.

Richard Caborn: To date 43 supporters trusts have been set up, 14 are under active consideration and 16 supporters directors have been appointed.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

National Minimum Wage (Greenock and Inverclyde)

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the national minimum wage on the income levels of people in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency.

Alan Johnson: The national minimum wage has contributed to a significant increase in the wages of people on low pay. According to the New Earnings Survey (NES) 10 per cent. of employees in Inverclyde earned less than £195 per week in 2000 compared with less than £165 in 1998—an increase of around 18 per cent. By comparison, average gross weekly earnings in Great Britain increased by 9 per cent. over the same period from £384.50 to £419.70.

Electricity Industry

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the changes in the export price of renewable energy generators (a) since the implementation of NETA and (b) in each year since 1997.

Brian Wilson: Ofgem's Report to DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators issued on 31 August 2001 indicated that export prices had reduced since the start of NETA as follows:
	for power from smaller generators generally, by 17 per cent.;
	for power from Hydro, by 14 per cent.;
	for power from wind, by 13 per cent.;
	for power from other renewables, by 7 per cent.
	The Department does not have information on changes in export prices of renewable energy generators for each year since 1997. In terms of prices for renewable energy exports the Department does not keep these figures which are usually a matter of commercial confidentiality. The Department does however provide guaranteed export prices to renewable exports which have received Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation contracts and the exact price paid to each export will be defined by the relevant contract. Average prices received by current projects for each NFFO Order are as follows.
	
		
			 NFFO order Total capacity (MW) Average cost (p/kWh) 
		
		
			 3 627 4.35 
			 4 843 3.46 
			 5 1,177 2.71

Mixed Oxide Fuel

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) the number of industrial contracts secured by BNFL for the Sellafield MOX plant, together with their country of origin, (b) the value of these contracts and (c) the percentage of the Sellafield MOX plant reference case represented by these contracts.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 9 January 2002
	Contracts for the supply of MOX fuel are a commercial matter for BNFL and its customers.
	BNFL's MOX supply prospects were considered in detail by the independent consultants, AD Little, in their review of BNFL's economic case for operation of Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP). A public domain version of AD Little's report (from which commercially confidential information was excluded) was published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Health in July 2001 and is attached to the decision document on MOX justification published on 3 October 2001.
	It can be noted that in a press release of 3 October 2001 BNFL stated that,
	"SMP already has contracted/reserved business for the 40 per cent. "break even" sales and ADL [AD Little] stated that they have evidence of customer commitment for 99 per cent. of the SMP reference business case".

Mixed Oxide Fuel

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the production of mixed oxide fuel began at the Sellafield MOX plant.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 9 January 2002
	BNFL began the first stage of active plutonium commissioning of the Sellafield MOX plant on 21 December 2001.

Miners' Compensation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the number of Miners' Health Compensation Scheme claims for respiratory diseases settled in full in (a) Wales and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom.

Brian Wilson: IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 33,661 claims in respect of respiratory disease in Wales. Taken together with Scotland and England, the total number of claims for respiratory disease is 173,824.
	Progress in Wales comparatively has been good. To date, the Department has settled 2,358 claims and paid 11,272 interim payments in Wales worth £63.6 million. In total across the UK, 14,780 claims have been settled in full and 43,904 interim payments have been made, totalling £241 million.
	Nationally, during November, nearly 7,000 offers worth £47.7 million were made, under both schemes, with a further 5,385 offers worth £42 million in December.

Miners' Compensation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if extra staff and resources will be appointed to accelerate the processing of Miners' Health Compensation Scheme claims in Wales.

Brian Wilson: The Department and its contractors continuously monitor the level of resources spread geographically across the Scheme as a whole. In Wales, it was decided between the Department and the Claimants' Solicitors that an office would be opened to process Welsh claims. The office was up and running in a very short time frame and opened on 2 April 2001. The number of staff at this office has increased from 11 to 70 by the end of 2001 and will be increased by a further 20 staff by March this year.

Miners' Compensation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average duration was between assessment and a full and final settlement for former miners with regard to (a) vibration white finger and (b) respiratory diseases in (i) Wales, (ii) the rest of the United Kingdom and (iii) the Cynon Valley in the last 12 months.

Brian Wilson: In respect of vibration white finger (VWF) the average duration between medical assessment and date of offer is as follows:
	
		Duration between medical assessment and offer date
		
			 Region Duration 
		
		
			 (i) Wales 5 months, 4 days 
			 (ii) United Kingdom 6 months, 5 days 
			 (iii) Cynon Valley 6 months, 15 days 
		
	
	With regards to respiratory disease, the average time between medical assessment and date of offer is as follows:
	
		Duration between medical assessment and offer date
		
			 Region Duration 
		
		
			 (i) Wales 6 months 
			 (ii) United Kingdom 5 months, 14 days 
			 (iii) Cynon Valley 6 months, 16 days

Miners' Compensation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to speed up the processing of miners' compensation claims in the Cynon Valley.

Brian Wilson: With regards to vibration white finger, there are 1,847 claims registered in the constituency of Cynon Valley. To date, 809 individual payments have been made, totalling £5.0 million.
	In relation to respiratory disease, 3,238 claims have been initiated in the above constituency. 1,140 individual payments have been made worth £5.4 million.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her to question No. 26873, above, regarding measures to speed up the process in Wales.

Contracts (Tanzania)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) defence and (b) non- defence contracts have been placed by UK companies with the Tanzanian Government since 1997.

Brian Wilson: No records are kept of non-defence contracts placed by UK companies with the Tanzanian Government. Defence contracts are a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

Public-Private Partnerships

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the public-private partnerships that have started in Greater London in the last five years.

Alan Johnson: My Department has one PPP project that has started in the last five years in the Greater London area—the redevelopment of the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington. Details of projects sponsored by other Departments, public bodies and local authorities are not held by my Department.

BNFL

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed relationship between BNFL and the Liabilities Management Authority.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The proposed relationship between BNFL and the Liabilities Management Authority was outlined in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House on 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 990. The White Paper next spring will contain further details.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she was first informed that BNFL was insolvent.

Brian Wilson: BNFL first informed my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 28 November 2001 that it had a deficit of net assets for accounting purposes.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 302W, what was the net increase in BNFL's liabilities resulting from the acquisition of Magnox Electric.

Brian Wilson: The report and accounts of BNFL for the year ended 31 March 1998 stated that the group's nuclear liabilities increased by £7,956 million due to the acquisition of Magnox Electric plc.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what profit figures have been published by BNFL Inc. in the US since 1990.

Brian Wilson: None. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 November 2001, Official Report, columns 163–64W.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial penalties have been imposed by the US Department of Energy on BNFL Inc. owing to its failure to meet contractual commitments at the Hanford River Protection project.

Brian Wilson: None.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Liabilities Management Authority will permit foreign companies to bid and run operations at the Sellafield site once BNFL's initial contract has expired.

Brian Wilson: The Liabilities Management Authority will place contracts in accordance with national, EU and international requirements relating to public procurement and with a view to ensuring that public sector civil nuclear liabilities are managed as safely, efficiently and cost effectively as possible. Any contractor responsible for operating Sellafield will have to satisfy security and other regulatory requirements relevant to the site.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the security implications of an overseas company operating the Sellafield site.

Brian Wilson: Any company responsible for operating the Sellafield or other licensed nuclear site would have to satisfy relevant security and other regulatory requirements. An assessment of the suitability of any company would be made at the time.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans there are for Sellafield employees to receive severance payments from BNFL if the company loses the contract to manage the site and employees transfer to a different contractor company.

Brian Wilson: Any transfer of BNFL employees to another employer would be carried out in accordance with TUPE requirements.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 655W, on BNFL, what was the cost of the advice on BNFL's liabilities provided by (a) CSFB, (b) HSBC, (c) Slaughter and May, (d) Arthur Andersen, (e) Deloitte and Touche, (f) Lane, Clarke and Peacock and (g) Mercers.

Brian Wilson: Since the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 13 July 1999, payments made to this Department's external advisers are as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			 Adviser Amount 
		
		
			 CSFB 6,041,000 
			 HSBC 777,000 
			 Slaughter and May 869,000 
			 Arthur Andersen (6)8,641,000 
			 Deloitte and Touche 1,620,500 
			 Lane, Clark and Peacock 138,500 
			 Mercers 170,000 
			 Total 18,257,000 
		
	
	(6) These costs shared approximately 50/50 with BNFL
	These amounts cover a wide range of advice, eg strategy and shareholder issues, acquisitions and disposals and the valuation and handling of nuclear liabilities.
	It is not practicable to identify separately the costs of the above work in relation to liabilities alone.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements will be made for employees at Sellafield to maintain their pension plans if the Liabilities Management Authority does not renew BNFL's contract to manage the site and its employees transfer to a different contractor company.

Brian Wilson: Any transfer of BNFL employees to another employer would be carried out in accordance with TUPE requirements and on the basis that pension arrangements would be no less favourable.

BNFL

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of (a) the total cost at present day prices and (b) the cost, on the same basis, to each taxpayer of dismantling all nuclear power installations and making safe all nuclear material that are currently the responsibility of British Nuclear Fuels.

Brian Wilson: BNFL's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 estimated the group's total discounted gross nuclear liabilities to be £16.1 billion (of which £5.4 billion was recoverable from customers under commercial agreements). In her statement of 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 993, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said that, in the light of a new strategy for processing its intermediate level waste, which its board had endorsed, BNFL estimated it needed an additional £1.9 billion to provide for its share of the discounted liabilities.

BNFL

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement regarding the safety record and future plans for privatisation of British Nuclear Fuels .

Brian Wilson: BNFL publishes annually an Environment, Health and Safety Report, which sets out the company's performance in these areas for the year. A copy is in the Library of the House.
	There are no plans for the privatisation of BNFL. However, in her statement to the House on 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 990, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made clear that HMG will reconsider the scope for the introduction of a PPP into BNFL in 2004–05, in the light of the overall performance of BNFL's businesses, advice from the Liabilities Management Authority, and the views of the industry regulators.

Nuclear Licence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will review the procedures for the issue of a nuclear licence by the Regulator, with particular reference to defining the area within the site licence.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The procedures by which HSE defines the area in which it enforces the licensing provisions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended) are a matter for the HSE and the Health and Safety Commission. There are no plans to change those procedures.

Insolvency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of the insolvency laws with particular reference to the enhanced protection of creditors from directors.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The Insolvency Act 1986 contains provisions providing effective protection for creditors against misconduct on the part of company directors. The Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 also enables us to provide effective protection from the activities of irresponsible, incompetent or rogue directors of companies that have become insolvent. Since April 2001 it has been possible to achieve disqualification by accepting undertakings as well as by court proceedings, and in the last two years over 3,000 directors have been disqualified for period of between two and 15 years on account of unfitted conduct.

Liabilities Management Authority

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the timetable for the setting up of the Liabilities Management Authority.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 14 January 2002
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry explained in her statement to the House on 28 November 2001, a Bill to set up the Liabilities Management Authority (LMA) will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity. This means that the LMA will not be established before the second half of 2003 at the earliest.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been reported in her Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 9 January 2002
	Three complaints have been reported in the Department of Trade and Industry under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; none relate to special advisers.

Trade Union Recognition (SMEs)

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government are doing to ensure trade union negotiation rights are given to employees in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Alan Johnson: Unions have been awarded recognition under the statutory recognition procedure at a number of small and medium-sized businesses. Later this year, we will review the statutory recognition scheme, including its application to small employers, as part of our broader review of the Employment Relations Act 1999.

Coal

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to subsidise the UK coal industry beyond July 2002.

Brian Wilson: The Government currently have no plans to extend the current coal subsidy scheme, or to introduce a new scheme, beyond July 2002. However we are working to ensure that the new EU coal state aid regime from July this year gives us the flexibility to devise suitable schemes to aid the industry if that is ever appropriate. Once the new EU regime is in place, we will of course consider on its own merits any proposals for Government support that complies with the new rules.
	We will also ensure that the new regime retains provisions to prevent subsidised coal from undercutting international prices, so that the UK coal industry cannot be disadvantaged with respect to its competitors in member states which may decide to pay continued aid.

Parental Leave

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the costs to small businesses of women taking statutory maternity leave.

Alan Johnson: For most small firms, the probability of an employee taking maternity leave in any given year is low. For example, survey evidence suggests that only about a tenth of workplaces with 10 or fewer employees have anyone going on maternity leave in any given year.
	Small businesses can recover 100 per cent. of the statutory maternity pay they pay out plus an additional amount to compensate for any associated employers' national insurance contributions they may have paid. Some small businesses, however, may choose to offer higher levels of maternity pay and longer periods of leave as a matter of good practice. Small businesses will also face costs in covering for the absent employee. The cost to any particular business will depend on the wage paid to the pregnant employee and how the business decides to cover for the absent employee.
	The Government have published a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the simplification of maternity leave which examines the likely costs of the changes to maternity leave which will be introduced in 2003. The RIA estimates that the total annual costs to small businesses of the increase in length of ordinary and additional maternity leave will be £23 million– £43.5 million.

Parental Leave

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received relating to the impact of the new maternity and paternity arrangements on women employed within small businesses.

Alan Johnson: The Government's proposals to improve maternity leave and pay and introduce paid paternity leave have been the subject of extensive public consultation. These measures were put forward in the Green Paper "Work and Parents: Competitiveness and Choice" (published December 2000) to which we received over 600 formal responses. Further responses were received following the publication of framework documents in May 2001 outlining the operation of the schemes. During the public consultation period we received responses from individual employers of all sizes, employer representative groups including those specifically representing small employers, parents, and employee representative groups.
	There was strong support from employers and employees for the proposals to simplify maternity rights and introduce paid paternity leave. The Government Response on simplification of maternity leave, paternity leave and adoption leave which was published on 8 November 2001, sets out the decisions the Government—informed by the consultation process—has taken. Copies of all responses are available for consultation on request in the DTI Library.

Employment Tribunals

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her definition is of a weak employment tribunal case; and what evidence she has considered on (a) the incidence of such cases in the system and (b) the incidence of cases being settled very close to a hearing.

Alan Johnson: The information is as follows:
	(a) It is not possible to collect statistical data on the strength of individual cases. Any assessment of the merits of an individual case is necessarily subjective.
	A working definition was used for the Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the Employment Bill based on the advice given to applicants, namely that a weak case was one where applicants had been advised by a solicitor or non-legal adviser that they would lose the case if it went to a hearing.
	Data on the advice given to applicants are available from the 1998 Survey of Employment Tribunal Applications. This suggests that there were between 2 and 4 per cent. of applications where the case either went to a hearing, was withdrawn within two weeks of the hearing date, or dismissed or disposed of in some other way and where the applicant was advised that they would lose the case at hearing (either by a solicitor or by a non-legal organisation such as a Citizens Advice Bureaus or a trade union). A range is given because not all applicants sought advice and, in some cases, conflicting advice was given by different sources. Applying these percentages to the 2000–01 level of applications would imply between 2,600 and 5,200 such cases.
	This measure is based on cases where the applicant was advised they would lose the case at a hearing. In some of these cases, the tribunal may have upheld the application. On the other hand, these estimates do not include cases where there was a weak defence.
	(b) Information on settlements does not identify cases which settle "close to the hearing date". Three quarters of cases settle or withdraw before the hearing, and ACAS conciliation leads to settlement in 38 per cent. of cases.

Sub-sea Cable

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish the consultancy report on the feasibility of a sub-sea cable on the western seaboard of the British mainland.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The report is expected shortly and we propose to publish it soon after it has been received. Decisions about further action will be taken in the light of the report's conclusions.

Primate Research Centre

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the support her Department is giving to the creation of a new primate research centre in Cambridgeshire.

Patricia Hewitt: The new Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience will use primates to study behavioural neuroscience, with potential benefits for understanding and treating human disease such as Parkinson's, stroke, and vCJD. However, it is not a centre for primate research as such. All research using animals must satisfy the strict regulations administered by the Home Office.
	The construction of the new centre will be funded principally by the Wellcome Trust as part of the Joint Infrastructure Fund, with a smaller contribution from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. My Department is not giving any financial support to its creation. The Minister for Science and Innovation wrote to confirm the national importance the DTI attached to the project, making clear that decisions on the centre's site were for the University of Cambridge and planning authorities. I am placing a copy of his letter in the Libraries of the House.

Renewables Obligation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from businesses concerning the administration costs of the Renewables Obligation; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: We have not received any representations specifically on the administration costs of the Renewables Obligation. We have however received views on the cost to the consumers, domestic and industrial. We are expecting that the additional cost to the consumer will on average be, 4.4 per cent. in 2010–11 over 1999 actual levels. The economic impact of the Renewables Obligation has been looked at in depth and we are proposing to phase it in gradually. The gradual implementation of this initiative has been planned to avoid major price hikes and to set an upper limit to the cost to both the industrial and the domestic consumer.

Electricity Supply

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her assessment is of the impact of NETA on the stability and continuity of electricity supply in the UK.

Brian Wilson: In general, UK capacity margins in electricity are currently healthy and in recent years there has been a significant amount of new build, mainly with Combined Cycle Gas Turbines. The new electricity trading arrangements (NETA) has encouraged the development of electricity trading markets. They will provide signals to the market in the future as to when new capacity is required and ensure a stable and continuous supply of electricity.

Generators

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she will take to support environmentally friendly small generators following the introduction of NETA; and if she plans to take this action before the next Budget.

Brian Wilson: The new Renewables Obligation, to come into effect this year, together with exemption of renewables from the climate change Levy and continuing support under the non-fossil fuel obligation, will create a long-term market incentive for renewables expected to be worth over £1 billion per year by 2010.
	This will be underpinned by direct Government funding for renewables worth over £260 million between 2001 and 2004 including an extensive capital grants programme for the early development of offshore wind and energy crops, the initial stage of a major photovoltaics demonstration programme and a boost for research and development.
	In addition, on 1 November 2001 we published a consultation document in response to Ofgem's reports on NETA and its impact on smaller generators, including renewables and combined heat and power (CHP). Consultation closed on 1 December and follow-up work to analyse responses and take appropriate action is now under way. On 20 December I announced the formation of a working group to look at obstacles to consolidation under NETA, and to report to DTI by 31 January 2002. The Government will be publishing a response to their consultation shortly.
	In addition, DEFRA are planning to issue their CHP Strategy shortly and that this will seek views on the measures needed to support the development of CHP. The Government also announced in their pre-Budget report that they will consider the environmental case for providing more favourable treatment for CHP within the climate change levy.

British Coal Producers

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she plans to extend the present financial arrangements to British coal producers beyond July; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will provide coal subsidies up to December to allow British coal producers to respond constructively to the forthcoming energy review; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The Government currently have no plans to extend the current coal subsidy scheme, or to introduce a new scheme, beyond July 2002. The existing scheme has achieved what it set out to do, as eligible pits have been helped significantly to survive the very difficult price and structural threats they faced in 1999–2001.
	We are working to ensure that the new EU coal state aid regime from July this year gives us the flexibility to devise suitable schemes to aid the industry if that is ever appropriate. Once the new EU regime is in place, we will of course consider on its own merits any proposal for Government support that complies with the new rules.

Renewable Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 396W, if she will place a copy of the interim report by the working group looking at consolidation services in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The interim report of the Consolidation Working Group was published on Ofgem's website on 10 January 2002, at www.ofgem.gov.uk. I will also be placing copies in the Libraries of the House.

Mail Deliveries

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of first class mail was delivered the next day in the last three month period for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: This is an operational matter for the company subject to the regulatory powers and duties of the Postal Services Commission in respect of service standards.
	I am advised by the company that 90.7 per cent. of first class mail was delivered the next day in the period July to September 2001.

Oldbury Power Station

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a copy of the evidence submitted to the 1998 Periodic Safety Review of Oldbury Power Station.

Brian Wilson: No. The DTI does not hold the evidence submitted to HSE by the operator for the Review. This is subject to S 28 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and can be released only for the purpose of HSE's functions (to secure the health, safety and welfare of persons from risks arising out of work activities) or with BNFL's specific consent.

Acquired Rights Directive

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 669W, on the acquired rights directive, by what means individuals who have lost out can claim redress.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 14 January 2002
	Anyone who believes that they have suffered loss due to the previous Government's partial non-implementation of the Acquired Rights Directive must show that they were in an undertaking affected by a relevant transfer which, but for the deficiencies in implementation, would have been within the scope of the TUPE Regulations, and that they suffered loss as a result. At present, a number of claims have been brought in the courts, but without the cause and amount of the claimed losses having been established. If anyone believes that they have a claim, then legal advice should be sought either directly or through the person's trade union.

Fireworks

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to break down the figures for injuries caused by fireworks by type of firework.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The annual data analysis currently details the types of fireworks involved in accidents as reported by patients who attend Accident and Emergency Departments.

Corus

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the regeneration aid for English areas affected by redundancies in the steel industry announced in May 2001 has been spent; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The majority of the £48 million package of regeneration measures for areas affected by the closures announced by Corus in May 2001 consisted of major infrastructure projects funded by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. Projects of this kind are necessarily slow-moving, and little money is spent in the early stages. Progress on the projects is as follows:
	Durham University Stockton Campus (budget £19.4 million)—discussions are continuing with Environment Agency and Highways Agency on the impact of the development. Site reclamation work will commence once this is concluded. No significant expenditure to date.
	Phase 2 of the Middlehaven project (budget £16 million)—Detailed design work is now underway. A new junction with the A66 will be built during March 2002, with work on the site following this in spring 2002. No significant expenditure to date.
	New Tees crossing feasibility study (budget £250,000)—£118,520 committed to be spent in financial year 2001–02, the remainder in early 2002–03.
	Light Rapid Transit system feasibility study (budget £250,000)—£93,525 committed to be spent in financial year 2001–02, the remainder in early 2002–03.
	A66 Longnewton Junction improvements (budget £4.7 million)—the project is included in the Highways Agency budget and work programme. The Agency expects to have identified a detailed work programme in the next two months.
	Broadband communications in Teesside and North Lincolnshire (budget £500,000 in each)—proposals from Regional Development Agencies are under consideration by DTI as part of the £30 million fund for the roll-out of broadband communications across the UK. Programme approval is expected in the next month.
	Enterprise Grants in Scunthorpe (budget of up to £500,000)—expenditure is dependent on applications from companies wishing to expand. No expenditure has yet been made.
	The remainder of the package announced on 3 May consisted of an extension of the Job Transition Service to the areas affected by the closures, and is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Corus

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of those eligible for compensation payments as a result of the redundancies declared by Corus in May 2001 have now received them.

Patricia Hewitt: Between 23 October 2001 when payments began and 22 January 2002, a total of 5,528 single lump sum payments of £2,480 will have been made to individuals who lost their jobs with Corus as the result of the company's announcement of 1 February 2001.

Corus

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list payments of regeneration aid that have been made to areas affected by Corus steel closures since January 2001.

Patricia Hewitt: Payments of regeneration aid are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. For details of expenditure on the package of measures announced as a result of the Corus closures on 5 May 2001, I refer the hon. Member to my reply today to question No. 25960.

North Sea Oil

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on North Sea oil and how long it is estimated the reserves will last; what percentage of the UK's oil requirement comes from the North Sea; and how many jobs in Scotland depend on the North Sea oil industry.

Brian Wilson: North Sea oil has been a success story for the UK and the Government are determined, in partnership with industry through PILOT, to ensure its continued success. Detailed estimates of oil reserves on the UK Continental Shelf are given in the Brown Book (Development of UK Oil and Gas Resources 2001). The extent to which these reserves might be produced depends on a number of factors, including prices and costs relative to other oil producing areas. It is therefore difficult to make accurate predictions, but if all the discovered oil reserves given in the Brown Book were to be developed they represent some 11 years of production at rates in 2000. If in addition, estimates of as yet undiscovered reserves are also considered, UK oil reserves represent between 13 and 29 years production, although the upper estimate is unlikely. In practice, production levels will fall and reserves will last longer. Indeed, a PILOT target is to produce 3 Mboed (million barrels of oil equivalent per day) in 2010 against about 4.5 Mboed in 2000.
	About 70 per cent. of UK oil production is exported and different grades of oil imported, so that UK crude accounted for some 46 per cent. of refinery throughput in 2000.
	UKOOA, the offshore operators association, have estimated that some 118,800 jobs in Scotland depend directly and indirectly on the oil industry.

Economic Regeneration

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many organisations in the SEEDA region dealt with economic regeneration in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; and what was the annual cost to public funds of each organisation,

Alan Johnson: Many organisations, both in the public and the private sector, contribute to economic regeneration. These bodies do not always specify what part of their budget is intended for regeneration, and where they do so there is no common definition of what is covered. Other previously existing organisations such as English Partnership and the Commission for New Towns covered a much wider area than the SEEDA boundaries, making it difficult at this late stage to disaggregate figures for the SEEDA area. For all these reasons it is not possible to provide figures in the form requested.
	While numerous partnership and organisations are currently involved in economic regeneration at a local level within the region, SEEDA is the main region-wide organisation which actively promotes economic regeneration in the south-east.
	Its budget for 1999–2000 was £63,586,000 and for 2000–01 was £74,901,000. Strictly speaking not all of this expenditure would be classed as "economic regeneration" as SEEDA's work among other things also involves skills, rural and community regeneration and social inclusion, however, all SEEDA's activities underpin economic regeneration within the south-east region.

Manufacturing Industry

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes have occurred in each of the last 10 years in (a) the numbers employed in the manufacturing industry and (b) the percentage of British GDP represented by manufacturing industry.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Paul Flynn, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the (a) the numbers employed in the manufacturing industry and (b) the percentage of British GDP represented by manufacturing industry in the past ten years. I am replying in his absence. (26034).
	The table below shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for 1992 to 2001.
	
		UK employee jobs in manufacturing (seasonally adjusted) -- Thousand
		
			 June Employee jobs 
		
		
			 1992 4,146 
			 1993 3,960 
			 1994 3,975 
			 1995 4,076 
			 1996 4,121 
			 1997 4,185 
			 1998 4,204 
			 1999 4,068 
			 2000 3,965 
			 2001 3,837 
		
	
	These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website under series identifier YEJL.
	The contribution of manufacturing industry to the United Kingdom whole economy gross value added over the most recent 10 years for which data are available is shown below. The difference between GVA at basic prices and GDP is the addition of taxes on products and the deduction of subsidies on products.
	
		Current price gross value added at basic prices (current prices)
		
			  Manufacturing (£ million) Whole economy (£ million) Manufacturing as percentage of whole economy 
		
		
			 1991 111,337 523,137 21.3 
			 1992 115,891 546,434 21.2 
			 1993 120,989 575,461 21.0 
			 1994 130,767 608,740 21.5 
			 1995 139,789 639,908 21.8 
			 1996 146,079 679,620 21.5 
			 1997 152,305 720,692 21.1 
			 1998 153,272 761,318 20.1 
			 1999 152,653 795,025 19.2 
			 2000 155,531 831,053 18.7

SCOTLAND

Energy Review

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on Scotland Office involvement in the performance and innovation unit energy review.

George Foulkes: I represent the Scotland Office on the PIU Energy Review Advisory Group. Over the past months, I have met with a wide variety of individuals and organisations with an interest in energy issues in Scotland to discuss their views on the matters covered by the review.

National Minimum Wage

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland are benefiting from the recent uprating of the national minimum wage.

George Foulkes: Some 135,000 people across Scotland have benefited from increased rates of pay as a result of the uprating on 1 October 2001.

National Minimum Wage

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to ensure the enforcement of the national minimum wage in Scotland.

George Foulkes: The Inland Revenue has two specialist teams, one based in Aberdeen, the other in East Kilbride, who are responsible for enforcing the national minimum wage in Scotland. Since April 1999 the two teams have completed nearly 1,500 investigations in Scotland, recovering over £500,000 in wage arrears. The Government have also run national publicity campaigns to raise awareness and the Inland Revenue recently held information seminars on its work for Scottish MPs.

Working Families Tax Credit

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland are benefiting from the working families tax credit.

George Foulkes: At August 2001, 119,063 families in Scotland were receiving the working families tax credit. This includes 1,893 families in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency.

Disability Rights Commission

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action she is taking to make the work of the Disability Rights Commission more widely known in Scotland.

George Foulkes: Last June I launched the DRC's survey on awareness of disability in Scotland and more recently took part in the Commission's countrywide roadshow to help promote their work. I assisted also in the launch of the DRC Scotland's first Annual Review, and held a seminar for MPs on the work of the DRC. Next month I am planning to host a reception to celebrate and publicise the work of the Commission.

MSP Numbers

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent progress she has made with her consultation on MSP numbers.

Helen Liddell: The consultation paper on the size of the Scottish Parliament was issued on 18 December 2001. Responses are required by 29 March 2002. The issue affects everyone in Scotland and all concerned have a full opportunity to have their say.

MSP Numbers

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to encourage participation by the general public in Scotland in the review of MSP numbers.

Helen Liddell: Copies of the consultation document have been issued to a wide range of organisations and individuals representing civic Scotland. The document is also available on the Scotland Office website. The issue is one which affects everyone in Scotland, and I would welcome their views.

European Football Championships

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with Scottish Ministers concerning Scotland's application to hold the European Football Championships in 2008.

George Foulkes: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Scottish Ministers about a wide range of issues. A decision about whether formally to support a bid for the European Football Championships in 2008 is a matter in the first instance for the Scottish Executive.

Drugs

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent successes have been achieved through efforts in Scotland to confiscate drugs and the proceeds of drug sales.

George Foulkes: Since its establishment in June 2000, the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency, in partnership with other enforcement bodies, has seized controlled drugs worth over £25 million.
	Since 1 April 2001, 24 confiscation orders relating to the proceeds of drug trafficking have been secured in Scottish courts. The value of these orders totalled £370,000.

European Union (Participation)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with Scottish Ministers regarding Scottish participation in EU institutions.

Helen Liddell: Both the Minister of State and I have regular meetings with Scottish Ministers to discuss those reserved policy areas that affect Scotland.
	Government policy on these matters is set out in the Memorandum of Understanding, and the concordats on International Relations and Co-ordination of European Policy Issues, agreed between the Government and the devolved Administrations.

Child Poverty

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the number of children living in poverty in Scotland in each year since 1997.

George Foulkes: We are making good progress on child poverty but much remains to be done. Detailed information can be found in "Opportunity for All", and in the Scottish Executive's annual Social Justice Report, "A Scotland where everyone Matters".

Trade Unions

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next plans to meet representatives from the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss trade union legislation.

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss legislation affecting trade unions; and what will be discussed.

Helen Liddell: I have regular contact with representatives of the STUC to discuss a wide range of issues. The next such occasion is on 30 January when the STUC is meeting Scottish Members and others in Dover House to discuss a wide range of issues including trade union legislation. I hope my hon. Friends will attend.

Rural Economy

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs concerning the rural economy in Scotland.

George Foulkes: My right hon. Friend and I discuss with a wide range of colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, matters concerning rural Scotland.

National Air Traffic Services

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met representatives of NATS; and what issues were discussed.

Helen Liddell: I will be meeting senior management from NATS tomorrow.
	It is my intention to discuss matters relating to the development of the new Scottish centre at Prestwick.

Laeken Convention

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Prime Minister about the convention established at the Laeken EU Council; and if there will be participants from the Scottish Parliament in the UK delegation to the convention.

Helen Liddell: The Convention on the Future of Europe will begin its work in March. Consultations will, of course, be held in the usual way on who the parliamentary representatives will be.

Rural Enterprises

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to encourage rural enterprises; and if she will make a statement.

George Foulkes: There has been close and effective collaboration between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive to deal with the foot and mouth outbreak and its aftermath. Support for rural enterprises in Scotland is primarily the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

Pensions

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received concerning pensions payable in Scotland.

George Foulkes: We receive a wide range of representations on a number of issues. I met with the GMB Retired Members Group on Friday 7 December 2001.

Employment

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on employment trends in Scotland since September 2001.

Helen Liddell: Latest figures show that employment in Scotland stands at 2.382 million, at around its highest level since 1960. The number of people in work from August to October 2001 fell by 9,000 over the quarter but was up by 3,000 on the same period a year earlier.

Dover House

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of staff based at Dover House are not directly employed by the Scotland Office; and by whom they are employed.

Helen Liddell: There are currently 35 Scotland Office staff in Dover House. Thirty-one staff are on loan to the Scotland Office from the Scottish Executive; one member of staff is on secondment from the House of Lords and there are three temporary staff. There are also 10 staff employed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, who are currently located in Dover House on a temporary basis; and five staff employed by Scottish Development International.

West Coast Mainline

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she has met representatives of Railtrack since 5 October to discuss the upgrading of the West Coast mainline.

Helen Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 92W.

Friends of Scotland

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Friends of Scotland she plans to recruit; and how many individuals have expressed interest in the scheme.

Helen Liddell: Many individuals in Scotland and abroad have expressed an interest in promoting a message of a modern and dynamic Scotland. My aim is to enable the largest possible number of Scotland's friends around the world to promote this message to Scotland's benefit.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Advocate-General, pursuant to her answer of 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 153, on the then Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill, if she has passed on the concerns of the hon. Member for Linlithgow to her right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Lynda Clark: Following my answer of 4 December, I received from my hon. Friend the letter from Douglas Connell dated 30 November. Mr. Connell's letter was forwarded to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary who has now replied directly to my hon Friend, on 13 December.

Human Reproductive Cloning Act

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Advocate-General what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive concerning the passage of the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001.

Lynda Clark: The Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 is the responsibility of the Department of Health. There was appropriate consultation between UK Government officials, including lawyers in my Office, and the Scottish Executive before it was enacted.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Standing Committees

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to the Modernisation Committee to improve the effectiveness of Standing Committees in scrutinising Bills.

Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend has already put forward an extensive programme of reform. Proposals for better pre-legislative scrutiny should provide more material for Standing Committees to use. However, I am sure the Modernisation Committee would be interested in any proposals to improve the effectiveness of Standing Committees.

Euro

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council to ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what provision has been made in the accounting procedures of the House for the use of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Archy Kirkwood: The accounting procedures used by the House follow those generally used in central Government Departments, and are based upon Treasury guidance. The accounting systems of the House (in common with most modern systems) have multi-currency capabilities. The House accounts for all transactions in sterling.

Pre-Legislative Scrutiny

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on his plans for pre-legislative scrutiny of bills.

Stephen Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mr. Lazarowicz) on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 165W.

Oath of Allegiance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to reform the Parliamentary Oath.

Stephen Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton).

Electronic Voting

Ben Chapman: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on his proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons about the future use of electronic methods of voting.

Stephen Twigg: Used appropriately, electronic voting could have advantages for Members by reducing the time spent on divisions rather than debate. The Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons may wish to consider my right hon. Friend's proposals.

Question Time

Anne McIntosh: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on his proposals to reform question time.

Stephen Twigg: The Procedure Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into parliamentary questions. We look forward to their recommendations.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the Commission agreed to pay the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for four days a week; when the Commission first understood the average days worked was five days a week; and when, why and how it decided to offer the next term at three days a week.

Archy Kirkwood: holding answer 9 January 2002
	The Commissioner for Standards was initially offered the post on the basis of three days a week. The Commission agreed to increase the salary to one based on employment for four days, but this was done in response to representations made by Mrs. Filkin and was not based on any re-assessment of her likely workload. The Commission was told by the Chairman of the Committee on Standards and Privileges on 10 December 2001 that the Commissioner for Standards was in fact working for about five days a week. As for the decision to advertise the next term as likely to be for three days a week, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 23 November 2001, Official Report, column 484W, and 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 871W.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what policy the Commission has adopted in relation to the correction of information concerning the recent letter from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

Archy Kirkwood: holding answer 9 January 2002
	If the hon. Member is able to be more precise about the events he has in mind, I will endeavour to reply to his question.

House Facilities

Simon Thomas: To ask the President of the Council what proposals he plans to make to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons for improving the facilities for families in the House.

Robin Cook: Responsibility for improving facilities for Members in the House rests with the Accommodation Committee.
	However, I understand that some work has already been carried out in improving the facilities in the Families Room and the Refreshment Department. An experimental play scheme last summer adjournment was successful and we hope to repeat it. If any Member has further proposals, I would be happy to consider how best to take them forward.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Rural Magistrates Courts

John Grogan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review policy on the closure of rural magistrates courts; and what assessment he has made of the findings of the Auld report on this subject.

Michael Wills: No. The Government's policy is that decisions concerning the number, location and future of magistrates courts are for magistrates courts committees to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority.
	In answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, we will consider this carefully, taking account of responses to Sir Robin Auld's Review Report. The assessment will be made after the period for public comment closes on 31 January.

Magistrates

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement as to the role of magistrates under the proposals in the report of Lord Justice Auld.

Michael Wills: Sir Robin Auld recommends retaining magistrates in their present summary jurisdiction and recommends a new role for magistrates alongside professional Judges in a new intermediate District Division. The Government welcome views on these proposals. The period for public comment runs until the end of January.

CAFCASS

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when she last met the Chairman of CAFCASS to discuss its progress.

Rosie Winterton: I met the Chairman of CAFCASS yesterday to discuss the progress of the organisation.

Courthouses (PFI)

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in building new court houses by means of the private finance initiative.

Michael Wills: The Court Service is currently supporting 12 local authority and three Court Service PFI schemes. Of these, four contracts have been signed and new courthouses have opened in Kidderminster, Hereford, Hull, Beverley and Bridlington. This is the start of a steady steam of new and refurbished court buildings being delivered that will provide a better and more efficient service to court users in modern user friendly and secure surroundings.

Charges Against Property

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review the process of recording a charge against property.

Michael Wills: The Land Registration Bill now before Parliament and rules to be made under it will modernise and simplify the law relating to charges (including charges created by electronic means) over registered land in England and Wales. The Government are also considering the recommendation made in the report of the Company Law Review Steering Group published in July last year that the Law Commission should be asked to examine the system for the registration of company charges and security and "quasi-security" generally over property other than land.

Public Guardianship Office

David Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what customer-friendly policies the Public Guardianship Office has developed since its creation.

Rosie Winterton: Since the PGO was created on 1 April 2001 several significant customer-friendly policies have been developed and are progressing well. These include the launch of a new website with downloadable forms, an extension to the opening hours of the Customer Contact Centre, the introduction of a text phone, and the establishment of a system of regularly surveying our customers' views. The PGO has also introduced the following initiatives:
	Receivers open days
	This is a new concept for the PGO. Open days are held across the country to enable receivers, and their clients, to meet PGO staff. PGO staff have visited receivers and clients in Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle and Leeds. During the open Days staff meet with approximately 100 receivers and clients on each day, to share with them the activities planned by the PGO and to answer any questions they may have. Crucially, clients also get to meet their caseworkers and to resolve any outstanding issues. Stalls are set up to provide additional and specialist information about a range of topics, including investments and accounts. The open days have been a huge success and several more are planned for the first quarter of 2002, including one in Cardiff.
	Receivers network
	The receivers network, set up and facilitated by the PGO, provides receivers with the opportunity to share experiences with each other. The network allows new receivers to call experienced, volunteer receivers requesting advice and information, or perhaps for an opportunity to share experiences with someone who understands the issues they are facing.
	Plain-English literature (booklets)
	A distribution campaign for four new user friendly booklets will begin during the week commencing 14 January. The booklets are called "Receivers Handbook", "Enduring Power of Attorney", "Making an Application" and "Public Guardianship Office Charter Standards". Draft copies of the booklets were sent to members of the consultative forum and the receivers support panel for their comments. Feedback from these individuals was taken on board and the amended booklets were then sent to the Plain English Campaign, who accredited each booklet with the Crystal Mark.
	Team-working
	This major initiative in the PGO is just getting under way as staff relocate to new premises in Archway, North London. Previously in the PGO, staff have worked in an insular and unsupported environment, with caseworkers taking sole responsibility for their own case load. Recently the PGO ran a team-working pilot, where a team of staff were given responsibility for providing customer service for a pool of cases. Team leaders have been recruited and trained. Although it will take a while for team-working to be rolled-out across the client services area it is expected that our clients will benefit from an improved continuous service from staff, who will work within an open, shared and supportive team culture.

Public Guardianship Office

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what target she has set for the Public Guardianship Office to respond to letters from hon. Members.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Guardianship Office has a Key Performance Measure which applies to letters from hon. Members as well as from the general public. It currently requires 85 per cent. of letters to be responded to within 15 days of receipt. In the period 1 April to 30 November 2001 this target was exceeded and 91.9 per cent. of letters received a response before the target date. However, it is very unfortunate that the hon. Member's letter of 14 November was answered outside of this target, for which the PGO offers it sincere apologies.

Public Guardianship Office

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Chief Executive of the Public Guardianship Office intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Aylesbury of 14 November 2001 about his constituent Mr. A. B. Clarke.

Rosie Winterton: I have been informed that the Acting Chief Executive replied to the letter on 11 January 2002. I take this opportunity to apologise, on behalf of the Public Guardianship Office, to the hon. Member for the unfortunate delay in responding to his letter. The PGO is currently re-evaluating the way it deals with complaints, including letters from MPs, and plans to introduce a new, tighter and more effective handling system by April 2002.

Public Guardianship Office

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of whether the Public Guardianship Office is continuing to meet the standards of responsiveness to inquiries from members of the public implied by its Chartermark.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Guardianship Office does not yet have the Chartermark. It does have a key performance measure that requires 85 per cent. of letters to be responded to within 15 days of receipt. In the period 1 April to 30 November 2001 this target was exceeded and 91.9 per cent. of letters received a response before the target date. However, it is very unfortunate indeed that a recent letter from the hon. Member was dealt with outside the target, for which the organisation offers its sincere apologies. A response has now been given. The PGO is currently re-evaluating the way it deals with complaints, including letters from hon. Members, and plans to introduce a new, tighter and more effective handling system by April 2002. The PGO is also introducing and rolling out team working throughout the Client Service area, with the aim of improving the service it offers to customers.

Judicial Appointments (Ethnic Diversity)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on plans to promote ethnic diversity on the Bench.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor appoints to judicial office exclusively on merit. The number of people from ethnic minorities holding judicial office substantially reflects the number of ethnic minority practitioners in the legal profession with the appropriate period of experience, which is usually not less than 20 years.
	The Lord Chancellor has already introduced a number of initiatives to encourage greater numbers to apply for judicial office and to secure equality of opportunity in the appointments process. For example, he has made information about the appointments procedures widely available, particularly through his website and the publication of the Judicial Appointments Annual Report; he applies the procedures flexibly in relation to age and sitting arrangements; he has introduced a work shadowing scheme which has proved to be very successful; he has reviewed the detailed criteria for appointment against which assessments of suitability are made; he is piloting a scheme to encourage applications from those who may think that their career progress to date understates their judicial potential; and has appointed a Commissioner for Judicial Appointments to audit and make recommendations about the appointments procedures and handle complaints.
	Preparatory work for a pilot assessment centre is under way with a view to running the pilot later this year. A video about the appointments process will be produced soon. These efforts will continue and be developed with a view to increasing the numbers from ethnic minorities who apply for and are appointed to judicial office.

Auld Report

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will respond to Lord Justice Auld's recommendations.

Michael Wills: The Government propose to set out their conclusions on the recommendations of Sir Robin Auld's review of the criminal courts in a White Paper to be published in spring 2002.

Census Website

Edward Davey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will publish the tender specification prepared by the Public Record Office for contracting process for the design and build of the website for the 1901 Census online; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The PRO placed a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC), seeking expressions of interest, on 6 November 1998.

Census Website

Edward Davey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the website for the 1901 Census will next be available for normal public access.

Rosie Winterton: The online service for the 1901 Census is available at the Family Records Centre in Islington, at the Kew site of the Public Record Office, and at a number of local public library and archive services. The website was temporarily closed to general internet access on 7 January 2002 so that enhancements could be introduced. General internet access will be re-introduced gradually as these enhancements are achieved.

Census Website

Edward Davey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consultations took place between QinetiQ and professional genealogists in the process of designing and building the website for the 1901 Census.

Rosie Winterton: In order to take full account of user views in the development of the 1901 Census website, the Public Record Office set up an Advisory Panel, which comprised professional genealogists and representatives of the main user groups, as well as staff from QinetiQ Ltd. The panel provided valuable feedback both on the pilot project relating to the 1891 Census for the county of Norfolk, which ran from May to the end of July 2001, and in the run-up to the launch of the 1901 online service.

Census Website

Edward Davey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consultations took place between the Public Record Office and professional genealogists in the preparation of the tender specification for the design and build of the website for the 1901 Census.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Record Office consulted on a regular basis regular basis with professional genealogists and other family history user groups as it prepared the tender specification. The final specification incorporated suggestions from these groups.

Census Website

Edward Davey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations the Public Record Office received on the proposal for and construction of the website for the 1901 Census.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Record Office consulted widely about, and received many comments on, the proposal for the 1901 Census online service. An Advisory Panel, comprising all the main user groups, met on 10 occasions and provided valuable feedback on the online pilot project relating to the 1891 Census for the County of Norfolk, concerning which over 2,000 responses were received. Many of these suggestions were incorporated into the final design for the 1901 Census online service. PRO staff also attended numerous family history fairs in the UK to seek the views of family historians.

Pleas

Peter Lilley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases referred by magistrates to the Crown court for sentencing the defendant had pleaded (a) guilty and (b) not guilty in the latest year for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: In 2000, the latest year for which figures are available, the Crown court disposed of 28,713 cases referred from magistrates courts for sentencing. Figures are not available on how the defendant had pleaded in these cases. However information collected in the magistrates courts Time Intervals Survey shows that 87 per cent. of defendants committed to the Crown court for sentencing in 2000 had pleaded guilty and 13 per cent. had pleaded not guilty.

Legal Aid

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to review the procedures for the application of legal aid with particular reference to the costs and benefits of a likely prosecution in order to avoid the possibility of any later withdrawal of a certificate.

Rosie Winterton: We have no plans to review the cost benefit criteria for public funding in civil cases, to which I understand the question refers. Funding is available subject to satisfying the financial conditions for funding and a funding assessment under the funding code. The funding assessment (or merits test) that has to be passed before funding can be granted already includes an assessment of the case's cost-benefit ratio. That is the applicant's own case; the merits of his or her opponent's case cannot be taken into account. However, it is inevitable that cost-benefit will change in some cases as matters develop, and an applicant's case needs to satisfy the funding assessment at all stages for funding to be retained. It would be impossible to devise a test that prevented funding being lost during the life of a case if merits deteriorated to a point where it was no longer justified.

Trespass

Peter Viggers: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will institute a review of the law on landowners' rights relating to trespassers.

Michael Wills: There are no current plans to review the law relating to landowners' rights relating to trespassers.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit and Pension Payments

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in receipt of state benefits or state retirement pensions have had their benefits or pensions withheld as a result of them being in hospital in each of the last four years.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-drugs Strategy

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the status is of the targets for reducing the consumption of class A drugs, as set out in the 10-year plan for tackling drugs misuse; what plans he has to change the targets; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress has been made in achieving the targets for reducing the consumption of class A drugs, as set out in the 10-year plan for tackling drugs misuse; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) on 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 1019W.

Anti-drugs Strategy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy changes he plans to ensure that the 10 years anti-drug strategy meets its five and 10 year targets.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer my hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 1019W.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for the period between the commencement of the home detention curfew scheme and 31 December 2001 inclusive, (a) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each offence who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, including offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offences called other offences, (c) the average sentence (A) received and (B) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (1) breached the conditions of the curfew, (2) disappeared and were recaptured, (3) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (4) had their licences revoked with reasons, (e) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including offences committed, by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

TETRA Masts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what evaluations were made by his Department before permitting the National Radiological Protection Board to erect TETRA masts for the emergency services;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the risks to the emergency services of erecting TETRA masts; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what evaluations were made by his Department before permitting the National Radiological Protection Board to erect TETRA masts for the emergency services;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the number of TETRA masts to be erected in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

John Denham: holding answer 14 November 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 93W.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is reviewing the draft PIU report into delivering electronic Government in the context of his consideration of entitlement cards and the threats posed by terrorism; when he expects to publish the report; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: The Performance Innovation Unit (PIU) report "e.Gov-Electronic Government Services for the 21st Century" was published in September 2000 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister before the Government began their consideration of a universal entitlement card scheme.
	The hon. Gentleman may have meant to refer to the PIU study into Privacy and Data Sharing in his question. The results of this study are being considered and will be published in due course. In their consideration of an entitlement card scheme, my officials are working closely with the PIU and the Office of the E-Envoy.
	The Government do not consider that an entitlement card scheme would have a significant effect in combating terrorism in the United Kingdom.

Extraditions

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the Government sought to be extradited to face trial in the UK from (a) other EU countries and (b) non-EU countries in each of the last 10 years broken down by categories of offence; and how many requests were (i) accepted, (ii) refused and (iii) withdrawn.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 11 January 2002
	Reliable statistics covering the last 10 years are not available. The information since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  Requests made(7) Outcomes(8),(9)  
			   EU1 non-EU Granted Refused Withdrawn 
		
		
			 1997 17 31 30(13) 4(2) 14(5) 
			 1998 43 20 38(19) 3(1) 14(7) 
			 1999 39 10 36(9) 2(0) 20(10) 
			 2000 50 20 31(7) 1(0) 10(4) 
			 2001 57 25 52(17) 6(2) 17(2) 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures do not include requests made to Ireland which are governed by the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 and are not collected centrally.
	2. Outcomes in any given year do not necessarily correspond to the number of requests made.
	3. Non-EU figures shown in brackets
	The following table indicates for the same five year period into which broad categories of offence requests made fell.
	
		
			  Year(9)  
			 Offence(7),(8) 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Drugs 11(7) 19(4) 14 17(2) 13(2) 
			 Murder — 2 4 9 11(4) 
			 Manslaughter — — — 1 2 
			 Terrorism — — — — (3) 
			 Rape (1) (3) 4(3) 3(2) 4(1) 
			 Violence against the person 5(3) 3 1(2) 2(1) 4 
			 Indecent assault 5(3) 4(1) (1) 5(2) 6(2) 
			 Firearms/explosives possession 2(1) — — — — 
			 Theft/robbery 6(2) 14(7) 12(2) 12(1) 17(2) 
			 Fraud/deception 6(3) 4 14(1) 12(5) 15(8) 
			 Kidnap/false imprisonment 1 1 1 2(1) 2 
			   
			 Offence  
			 Child abduction — 3 — (5) 3(1) 
			 Tax/VAT evasion 1 3 2 7 6(2) 
			 Forgery/counterfeiting — — — 1 2 
			 Arson — — (1) 1 — 
			 Official Secrets Act — 1 — — — 
			 Money laundering — 1 — — — 
			 Blackmail (1) — — (1) — 
			 Pornography (1) 2(1) — 1 1 
			 Affray — (1) — — — 
			 Arranging bogus marriages — (1) — — — 
			 Death by reckless driving 1 1 — — 1 
			 Drunk on aircraft — — (1) — — 
			 Perverting course of justice — 1 — — — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Offences are defined broadly, and include conspiracies or attempts to commit offences.
	2. The figures do not perfectly match the number of requests in the preceding table some fugitives are sought for more than one offence.
	3. Non-EU figures shown in brackets.

Murder

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what information he has on the present (a) murder rate per 1,000 of the population and (b) attempted murder rate for (i) Manchester and (ii) the UK;
	(2)  what information he has on the clear-up rate for (a) murder and (b) attempted murder for (i) Manchester and (ii) the UK.

John Denham: holding answer 11 January 2002
	Figures for the murder and attempted murder rate per 1,000 of the population for Greater Manchester and England and Wales for year ending March 2001 are:
	(a) (i) Homicides (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) for Greater Manchester is .022; (ii) homicides for England and Wales is .016.
	(b) (i) Attempted murder rate for Greater Manchester is .031; (ii) attempted murder rate for England and Wales is .013.
	Figures for the clear-up rates for murder and attempted murder for Greater Manchester and England and Wales for year ending March 2001 are:
	(a) (i) Detection rate for homicide in Greater Manchester is 91 per cent.; (ii) detection rate for homicide in England and Wales is 90 per cent.
	(b) (i) detection rate for attempted murder in Greater Manchester is 72 per cent; (ii) detection rate for attempted murder in England and Wales is 81 per cent.
	Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for their respective Ministers.

Asylum Seekers

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the latest date for which figures are available, how many asylum seekers have been dispersed since the introduction of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and how many asylum seekers receiving support from the NASS under section 95 of the Act, and living in London and the south-east, have had dispersal directions cancelled on medical grounds.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The information is not available in the form requested.
	Information recorded by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) shows that as at the end of September 2001, the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation was 32,890 1 , 2
	1 Figure rounded to the nearest 10.
	2 Cases which have had their support terminated are excluded from this figure.
	Information is not available on the numbers of asylum seekers who have had dispersal directions cancelled on medical grounds.

Asylum Seekers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2001, (15273), when he expects to conclude the final list of categories of data to be stored on the micro-chip on the asylum seeker identification card.

Angela Eagle: The list of data initially contained within the micro-chip of the Application Registration Card will be finalised shortly before production commences which is expected to be at the end of January 2002. However, it will remain subject to review and change.

Asylum Seekers

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 479W, if it is his intention that an asylum seeker who has been accommodated in a reception centre or accommodation centre immediately prior to being recognised as a refugee or being granted exceptional leave to remain, will have to establish a local connection when making an application for housing assistance from a local authority under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	Housing applicants who have been accommodated in a reception centre or accommodation centre and who have been granted either refugee status or exceptional leave to remain would be treated on the same basis as all other applicants.
	Under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, local housing authorities must consider all applications for housing or housing assistance where they have reason to believe the applicant is, or may be, homeless or threatened with homelessness. They may also take account of whether or not applicants have a local connection with the district of another local housing authority, if they wish.
	Where an applicant is eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, the authority dealing with the application must accept responsibility for any duty owed, if the applicant has a local connection with the authority's district or does not have any local connection with any district in England, Wales and Scotland. If such an applicant does not have a local connection with the authority's district but does have one with another district, the authority may seek to refer the applicant to the authority in the other district.

Visas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that the hon. Members' hotline is kept up to date with the latest information on those seeking visa applications.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The MPs hotline staff answer a large range of queries from hon. Members regarding those wishing to remain in the United Kingdom. The MPs hotline staff seek to ensure that all information provided to hon. Members is up to date. None the less, we are looking at improvements in process and equipment to ensure that the service provided is as rapid and accurate as possible.

Naturalisation Applications

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made for naturalisation; and what was the (a) average and (b) upper decile time taken to determine applications, in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 11 January 2002
	Information on naturalisation applications received and on the upper decile time to determine applications is not available.
	Statistics on the total number of applications for British citizenship received, 1997 to 2000, are given in the table. Data for 2001 will be published in the Home Office statistical bulletin "Persons Granted British Citizenship, 2001" in the summer this year.
	Information on the average waiting time for citizenship are not routinely published. The most recent published information relates to March 2001, when the average waiting time was 11.6 months.
	One of the Government's Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets is to reduce the average time taken to grant citizenship (naturalisations and registrations) to six months by the end of 2001–02. It is expected that performance on this target will be reported on in due course.
	
		Applications for British citizenship received in the United Kingdom, 1997–2000 -- Number of persons
		
			  Applications received 
		
		
			 1997 66,000 
			 1998 68,030 
			 1999 67,400 
			 2000 (7)63,700 
		
	
	(7) Provisional

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 12 October, 16 November, 12 December 2001 and 9 January 2002, relating to her constituent, Ms Audrey Stanley of Cheshunt.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 14 January 2002
	My right hon. and noble Friend Lord Rooker replied to the hon. Member on 10 January 2002.

Sex Offenders

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her statement of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 7, on sex offenders, for what reason she has concluded that it is not in the interests of child protection to make people's names and addresses widely accessible in the community; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The police already have and use the power to disclose information to members of the public about sex offenders in the community where, in their judgment, it is necessary to do so to prevent a crime from being committed. We believe, in common with the public protection agencies, that making information about sex offenders widely available would hinder child protection rather than helping it. Offenders subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 would be less likely to comply with those requirements if they knew their details would be publicly available, and might be driven into hiding due to fear of vigilante action. Sex offenders in this situation would not then be subject to the inhibiting controls of the public protection agencies and, for example, would be less likely to undertake treatment due to a fear of being identified. As a result, they would pose a greater risk to children.
	This conclusion is borne out by the experience following the News of the World's sex offender campaigns in 1998 and 2000. The Association of Chief Officers of Probation provided anecdotal evidence about the effects of those campaigns, including that a number of high risk sex offenders lost contact with the public protection agencies; many others who were previously participating in treatment programmes stopped doing so for fear of being identified; a number of serious assaults on people who were mistaken for sex offenders took place; and the families, who in some cases had been the victims of sex offenders, were also assaulted and abused by members of the public. All these factors are deeply regrettable but perhaps the most regrettable potential consequence of community notification is that children will be placed at greater risk from sex offenders who are not complying with the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act.
	The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has also recently published a report on the community notification system in the United States (Megan's Law). That report concludes:
	"There is very little evidence to substantiate claims that community notification enhances child safety".

Trial in Absentia

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offences for which trial in absentia is permitted in the United Kingdom.

Keith Bradley: There is no list of offences; an accused can plead guilty in writing to a magistrates court if the offence is liable for a sentence of less than three months' imprisonment.
	A magistrate may proceed with a hearing if the accused fails to appear, or if (s)he is satisfied that there is no good reason for their absence.
	As a general rule, the accused is required to be present during Crown Court trials. There are, however, exceptional circumstances when the accused's presence may be dispensed with. Such decisions are at the judge's discretion, and include situations such as misbehaviour by the accused or his/her voluntary absence.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are registered on the Sex Offenders List that have been found guilty of child abuse.

Keith Bradley: Until March 2001, data on the number of registered sex offenders were collated biannually on a national basis from the police national computer. However, this arrangement was overtaken by guidance issued by the Home Office in respect of the statutory provisions in section 67 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. The guidance requires information about the number of registered sex offenders in each police area to be published. This will take place from April 2002 and local systems are being put in place to deliver it. A collated report on the national situation should be available during the summer. However, until these systems are in place such information could be obtained only by a specific research exercise.
	There is, in any case, no specific offence of child abuse as many sexual offences are capable of being committed against either adults or children. Indeed some sex offences against children are committed by children. The statistical information which will be required of Chief Officers of Police and Probation in relation to their work on Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels (MAPPPs) is one of the areas which are currently being developed.

Animal Welfare

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for animal cruelty there were in each year since 1990.

Keith Bradley: Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database showing the number of prosecutions and convictions for offences relating to animal cruelty during the period 1990–2000 is given in the table.
	
		Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and offenders convicted at all courts for offences relating to animal cruelty, -- England and Wales 1999–2000
		
			  1990 1991 1992  
			 Legislation Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended) 1,167 968 1,202 862 1,154 926 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 8 7 7 1 0 4 4 
			 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act, 1933 61 48 33 25 31 27 
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1934 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 1949 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pet Animals Act, 1951 9 6 10 6 23 18 
			 Cockfighting Act, 1952 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954 21 21 39 30 29 26 
			 Animal Health Act, 1981, Secs. 40–42, 46 and 49 and Orders made under Secs. 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 53 43 98 78 73 62 
			 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974 12 8 4 4 5 5 
			 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Sec. 1 52 41 47 41 62 54 
			 Offences against other enactments 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962 0 0 2 2 5 5 
			 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963 4 3 10 9 5 5 
			 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970 10 7 8 6 5 4 
			 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967 0 0 2 2 3 3 
			 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967, Secs. 1, 2 and 6 13 11 18 17 16 12 
			 Badgers Act 1973 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 Sec. 26 and Badgers Act 1991 Sec. 1) 42 26 24 17 50 28 
			 Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Sec. 13) (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 9 6 6 4 2 6 5 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 11 4 3 4 4 3 3 
			 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991 11 10 11 9 23 18 
			 Diseases of Animals Act 123 123 169 136 128 105 
			 Wild Birds Protection Acts 81 112 109 87 92 61 
			  
			 Total 1,678 1,445 1,796 1,338 1,719 1,372 
		
	
	
		
			  1993 1994 1995  
			 Legislation Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended) 1,084 861 908 731 927 754 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 8 3 2 0 0 3 3 
			 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act, 1933 (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1934 9 8 4 3 2 2 
			 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 1949 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pet Animals Act, 1951 9 8 13 12 7 6 
			 Cockfighting Act, 1952 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954 39 33 33 27 18 17 
			 Animal Health Act, 1981, Secs. 40–42, 46 and 49 and Orders made under Secs. 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 42 34 37 26 49 42 
			 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974 1 1 3 3 — — 
			 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Sec. 1 53 38 21 16 18 13 
			 Offences against other enactments 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962 7 5 1 1 0 0 
			 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963 4 3 0 0 5 3 
			 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970 3 2 0 0 5 3 
			 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967 2 2 4 3 5 2 
			 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967, Secs. 1, 2 and 6 35 34 32 21 18 13 
			 Badgers Act 1973 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 Sec. 26 and Badgers Act 1991 Sec. 1) 48 22 39 27 41 27 
			 Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Sec. 13) (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 9 15 5 7 4 0 0 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 11 0 0 3 3 6 6 
			 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991 5 3 2 2 1 1 
			 Diseases of Animals Act 67 48 56 48 48 43 
			 Wild Birds Protection Acts 117 75 119 94 126 93 
			  
			 Total 1,545 1,185 1,282 1,021 1,279 1,028 
		
	
	
		
			  1996 1997 1998  
			 Legislation Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended) 967 764 1,051 867 1,107 889 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 8 2 1 8 8 2 2 
			 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act, 1933 (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1934 3 2 6 4 4 4 
			 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 1949 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pet Animals Act, 1951 5 5 4 4 7 6 
			 Cockfighting Act, 1952 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954 18 16 34 30 23 20 
			 Animal Health Act, 1981, Secs. 40–42, 46 and 49 and Orders made under Secs. 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 58 43 76 68 87 73 
			 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974 1 1 0 0 3 3 
			 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Sec. 1 25 19 26 21 36 26 
			 Offences against other enactments 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962 0 0 1 1 1 0 
			 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963 4 4 2 2 7 7 
			 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970 6 4 1 — 1 1 
			 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967 5 5 6 3 18 15 
			 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967, Secs. 1, 2 and 6 23 16 10 9 5 5 
			 Badgers Act 1973 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 Sec. 26 and Badgers Act 1991 Sec. 1) 31 19 (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Sec. 13) (8)— (8)— 44 25 19 4 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 9 6 3 5 3 0 0 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 11 1 1 2 0 3 3 
			 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 (8)— (8)— 7 3 8 7 
			 Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991 4 4 5 4 5 4 
			 Diseases of Animals Act 52 43 97 81 103 80 
			 Wild Birds Protection Acts 203 184 84 63 68 42 
			  
			 Total 1,414 1,134 1,469 1,196 1,507 1,191 
		
	
	
		
			  1999 2000(9)  
			 Legislation Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended) 1,050 828 1,074 861 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 8 1 1 6 4 
			 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 0 0 0 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act, 1933 (6500800008)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1934 0 0 1 1 
			 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 1949 2 0 2 2 
			 Pet Animals Act, 1951 10 9 19 14 
			 Cockfighting Act, 1952 0 0 0 0 
			 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954 25 21 24 15 
			 Animal Health Act, 1981, Secs. 40–42, 46 and 49 and Orders made under Secs. 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 56 51 31 23 
			 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974 4 4 0 0 
			 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Sec. 1 17 12 26 13 
			 Offences against other enactments 0 0 4 0 
			 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962 0 0 0 0 
			 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963 8 6 11 4 
			 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970 0 0 3 2 
			 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967 8 7 0 0 
			 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967, Secs. 1, 2 and 6 15 11 16 10 
			 Badgers Act 1973 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 Sec. 26 and Badgers Act 1991 Sec. 1) (8)— (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Sec. 13) 30 10 21 4 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 9 3 0 0 0 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 11 4 3 0 0 
			 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 0 0 5 4 
			 Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991 5 4 3 2 
			 Diseases of Animals Act 72 53 26 22 
			 Wild Birds Protection Acts 157 118 96 80 
			  
			 Total 1,467 1,138 1,368 1,061 
		
	
	(8) Not available
	(9) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.

Criminal Justice and Police Act

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated under section 46 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

Keith Bradley: The Home Office Court Proceedings Database began separately identifying prosecutions completed for this offence from 1 January of this year. Such information will become available, after the publication of court proceedings statistics for 2002, in the autumn of next year.

Bachir Aouni

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the money defrauded from Barclays Bank by Bachir Aouni and his associates has been traced; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The tracing of property suspected to be the proceeds of crime is a matter for the police.

Traffic Offences

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many traffic offences were committed by drivers under the age of 16 in each of the last 20 years.

Keith Bradley: Data prior to 1990 are not available for the age group required. The table gives information on offences most likely to have involved a traffic offence.
	
		Findings of guilt at all courts for traffic offences(10) committed by offenders aged 10–15 years and offence group -- England and Wales 1990–2000
		
			   Number of offences  
			 Offence group Offence type(10) 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Age 10–15 
			 1 Causing death or bodily harm 4 —(11) 20 4 8 4 4 7 6 6 3 
			 2 Dangerous driving 208 —(11) 226 111 111 150 116 105 130 138 173 
			 3 Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs 65 —(11) 41 42 59 89 135 128 114 120 129 
			 4 Careless driving 219 —(11) 131 102 117 129 123 109 135 146 202 
			 5 Accident offences 180 —(11) 105 121 133 126 111 118 123 144 189 
			 16 Speed limit offences 15 —(11) 20 6 2 9 5 10 8 12 12 
			 17 Motorway offences (other than speeding) 0 —(11) 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 18 Neglect of traffic directions 75 —(11) 52 55 44 71 86 56 69 80 97 
			 19 Neglect of pedestrian rights 40 —(11) 20 18 35 36 30 20 22 29 25 
			 20 Obstruction, waiting and parking offences 5 —(11) 1 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 
			 24 Offences peculiar to motor cycles 443 —(11) 256 279 398 448 408 410 422 397 452 
			 25 Miscellaneous motoring offences 110 —(11) 85 111 111 157 95 92 105 120 89 
			   
			  Total traffic offences 1,364 —(11) 958 853 1,020 1,221 1,115 1,058 1,138 1,194 1,374 
			  As a percentage of total offences committed by persons all ages 0.25 —(11) 0.18 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.29 0.36 
		
	
	(10) The list of offence types group those offences most likely to have involved a traffic offence. They exclude offences committed by pedal cyclists.
	(11) Not available.
	Note:
	Data taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database.

Taxis

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents there were in which taxi drivers and minicab drivers were successfully prosecuted for (a) causing death by dangerous driving and (b) driving without due care and attention in each of the last 10 years.

Keith Bradley: Information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not identify the occupation of a defendant. For some offences the occupation can be inferred from the offence description but this is not the case for causing death by dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention.

Child Trafficking

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of the slave trade in children in the United Kingdom.

Keith Bradley: There are currently no reliable data about trafficking in people either nationally or internationally. The clandestine nature of the offence means that it is difficult to measure the extent to which the United Kingdom receives children trafficked for sexual and labour exploitation. However, there is no evidence to indicate that there is large-scale trafficking of children to the United Kingdom.
	The United Kingdom is one of the strongest supporters of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. In recognition of the seriousness of the offence of trafficking children on an international scale, we are working across Government, and with a variety of organisations, to encourage ratification and implementation of the convention world-wide.

Air Weapons

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what was the average age of individuals convicted of offences involving air weapons in the last year;
	(2)  how many individuals were convicted of offences involving the misuse of air weapons in the last year in (a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Keith Bradley: The available information for England and Wales is in terms of convictions for offences involving air weapons as defined under the Fireams Acts, as opposed to all offences where air weapons were used. The table, derived from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, gives the number of persons convicted in 2000 and their average ages for those offences identified by the database.
	Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	
		Persons convicted of offences(12) under the Firearms Acts connected with air weapons—England and Wales 2000
		
			  England(13) Wales  
			 Offence Persons convicted Average age Persons convicted Average age 
		
		
			 Possessing air weapon or imitation air weapon at time of committing or being arrested for an offence specified in schedule 1 of the Act 2 15 1 13 
			 Possessing air weapon or imitation air weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, or resist arrest etc. 4 16 — — 
			 Possession of an air weapon or imitation air weapon with intent to cause fear of violence 20 17 — — 
			 Possession of air weapons by persons previously convicted of crime 30 27 6 27 
			 Supplying air weapons to person denied them under section 21 — — — — 
			 Carrying loaded air gun in public place etc. 160 21 10 24 
			 Trespassing with air weapon in a building 3 15 — — 
			 Trespassing with air weapon on land 17 22 1 38 
			 Person under 17 acquiring air weapon 3 16 — — 
			 Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or ammunition therefor 15 12 1 12 
			 Person under 17 having with him an air weapon in a public place 47 15 5 15 
			 Person under 14 making improper use of air weapon when under supervision 1 11 — — 
			 Person supervising person under 14, permitting improper use of air weapon 1 25 1 39 
			 Selling or letting on hire an air weapon to person under 17 — — — — 
			 Supplying air weapon to person under 14 2 28 — — 
			 Supplying air weapon to person drunk or insane — — — — 
			 Failure to hand over air weapon or ammunition on demand by constable — — — — 
			  
			 Total 305 20 25 23 
		
	
	(12) Data are given on a principal offence basis.
	(13) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against at magistrates court for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.
	Source:
	Home Office Crime and Criminal Justice Unit

Unlicensed Vehicles

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions were secured for the non-payment of road fund licence in the last year in (a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Scotland.

Keith Bradley: Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database shows that in 2000 there were 21,580 convictions in Wales for offences under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, s29—failure to pay appropriate duty—and 278,641 convictions within England.
	Information relating to Northern Ireland and Scotland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to re-examine the methods for the operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and in particular the restrictions placed upon those individuals who have previously had criminal convictions on receiving compensation.

Keith Bradley: All aspects of the scheme were re-examined following a major public consultation launched in 1999, and a number of significant changes and improvements were brought into force with effect from 1 April 2001. There are no plans for further re-examination, though the general operation of the scheme is kept under continuing review.
	Previous convictions do not automatically or permanently preclude payment of compensation. In assessing applications, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and the complementary independent Appeals Panel take into account other relevant factors. Convictions spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 must be disregarded.

Bogus Children's Charities

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place between his Department and the Home Office to crack down on bogus children's charities.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Responsibility for the investigation of organisations which claim falsely to be charities rests with the police. The Chief Charity Commissioner will write to the hon. Member with information on how the Charity Commission identifies and deals with possible abuse and maladministration in charities concerned with children. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state against each category of appeal, and for the last full year for which records are kept, (a) the (i) target and (ii) actual time for dispatch of explanatory statements by entry clearance officers from notification by unsuccessful applicants of their notice of appeal, (b) the time such statements are held in the Home Office before being sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority and (c) for what reason figures are not published in the Home Office annual report; what proposals he has for reducing the delay; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The target time for dispatch of explanatory statements from entry clearance posts to the Home Office is one month from receipt of the notice of appeal for non-settlement applications and three months for settlement applications. Information on the actual time for dispatch is not available.
	Information on the time such statements are with the Home Office is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	These figures were not published in the last Home Office report as they do not measure performance against a Public Service Agreement or Home Office target.
	The scope for reducing timescales will be kept under review as part of the substantial expansion in appeals capacity announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 29 October 2001.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Correspondence

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will answer the questions from the hon. Member for Maidenhead on the grant payment deed for (a) NGCL and (b) Renewco, Refs 22067, 22068 and 22069.

Stephen Byers: I have answered the hon. Member's questions today.

London Underground

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library the assumptions underlying the judgment about the amount of money that would be saved by the effect of the London Underground PPP on staff as opposed to the effect of the public sector alternative on staff; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library his assumptions underlying the judgment about the amount of money that would be saved by introducing private sector management skills through London Underground PPP as opposed to through the public sector alternative; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library the assumptions underlying the judgment about the amount of money that would be saved by large projects in the London Underground system being implemented through the proposed PPP as opposed to through the public sector alternative; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 846W.

London Underground

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 498W, on London Underground, what steps are being taken to increase the capacity of the Jubilee line to 27 trains per hour.

John Spellar: London Underground informs me that work is currently in hand to improve capacity. Under the planned public-private partnership, London Underground's intention is that responsibility for delivering the capacity it specifies, whether through improved signalling or other means, will be that of the private sector infrastructure company.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average number of carriages in each train on each line of the London Underground is.

John Spellar: This is an operational matter for London Underground who have provided the information set out in the table which shows the number of carriages per train for each line on the Underground.
	
		
			 Line Number of carriages per train 
		
		
			 Bakerloo 7 
			 Central 8 
			 Circle 6 
			 District(14) 6 
			 East London 4 
			 Hammersmith and City 6 
			 Jubilee 6 
			 Metropolitan(15) 8 or 4 
			 Northern 6 
			 Piccadilly 6 
			 Victoria 8 
			 Waterloo and City 4 
		
	
	(14) Two different types of train stock are used on the District line. The Edgware Road to Wimbledon service comprises "C" stock. All other services on the line make use of "D" stock. Both types of stock are used in six carriage train sets.
	(15) All Metropolitan line trains comprise eight carriages, with the exception of the single four carriage train providing the shuttle service between Chesham and Chalfont and Latimer.

Council Tax Benefit

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he intends to make compensation adjustments as a result of the abolition of council tax benefit subsidy penalty for Devon county council's settlement for 2002–03;
	(2)  by what percentage the £1.4 million Devon county council will benefit from in 2002–03 will be reduced as a result of the abolition of council tax benefit subsidy penalty.

Alan Whitehead: No adjustments will be made to any local authority's settlement figures for 2002–03 as a result of the abolition of the council tax benefit subsidy limitation scheme. Like other local authorities, Devon county council will no longer need to make, or include in its budget requirement, a contribution under the scheme for 2002–03 or future years. It will therefore benefit from the abolition of the scheme. The figure of £1.4 million is its contribution to benefit costs under the scheme in 2001–02. South-East Manchester Multi-Modal Study

Council Tax Benefit

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress he has made with the south-east Manchester Multi-Modal Study; and when he will announce his decision and the first tranche of funding.

John Spellar: I am currently considering the report and the north-west regional assembly's recommendations and hope to make an announcement shortly.

"Planning: Delivering A Fundamental Change"

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he plans parish councils to have a role under the proposals relating to planning in his paper, "Planning: delivering a fundamental change"; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The consultation document "Planning: delivering a fundamental change" does not propose planning functions for parish or town councils. It envisages, however, that action plans drawn up as part of the proposed local development frameworks might include neighbourhood, village or parish plans drawn up with the involvement of the local community (paras 4.13–15 and 4.24).

Starter Home Initiative

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the estimated number of new homes for nurses in south-east England which will be built under the Starter Home Initiative over the years 2001–02 to 2003–04.

Sally Keeble: Around 3,500 nurses and other essential health workers in London and the south-east will be helped to buy homes through the Starter Home Initiative allocations totalling £230 million which were announced on 6 September 2001. The arrangements for allocating Round 2 Starter Home Initiative funding of £20 million will be announced shortly.
	We expect the majority of key workers being helped through the Starter Home Initiative will purchase existing properties. A number of schemes will provide new build properties only, a number will target existing properties and a number of large schemes will target existing properties and also try to identify opportunities for new build.

Starter Home Initiative

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will allow access to the Starter Home Initiative for key workers to teachers in further education colleges.

Sally Keeble: The subsidy we are providing to assist people into home ownership is limited and has to be targeted in ways that best help our communities. The Starter Home Initiative funding available for teachers is being targeted on teachers working in schools because this is where the most severe recruitment and retention problems in the profession are being experienced.
	Teachers in further education and other key workers will benefit from our wider housing policies to increase the supply of affordable homes, particularly in areas where demand is high. Investment in housing will rise to more than £4 billion by 2003–04 and we are consulting on radical proposals for the more effective delivery of affordable housing through the planning system which would help provide greater opportunities for key workers.

Asset Management Plans

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated cost is of the building (a) repair and (b) maintenance backlog contained within the Asset Management Plan of each local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: Local authorities have submitted Asset Management Plans to Government as part of the first live round of the single capital pot during 2001. Each authority was asked to provide an estimate of its maintenance backlog for all assets—housing, education, transport, office accommodation etc. No distinction was made between repair and maintenance for this purpose.
	The response rate on the question of backlog was over 70 per cent. for counties, metropolitan districts and unitary councils, 57 per cent. for London boroughs and 24 per cent. for district councils. The average backlog for those authorities responding was used to produce an estimate for the whole population.
	The totals should be treated with caution as most authorities are not yet well advanced in asset management and we are not able to confirm that consistent and robust methods were used to assess the backlog.
	
		
			  Average per council £ million Total estimate of backlog £ billion 
		
		
			 Counties 139 4.4 
			 Metropolitan districts 251 7.8 
			 Unitary councils 96 3.8 
			 London boroughs 143 4.7 
			 District councils 19 4.4 
			  
			 Total  25.1

Transport Emissions

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions by how much and over what periods of time he expects emissions from the transport sector to fall as a result of the Government's 10-Year transport plan.

John Spellar: The three tables set out the Government's forecasts of the reduction of CO 2 , NOx and PM 1 0 emissions between 2000 and 2010 as the result of the actions set out in the Government's 10-Year Plan for Transport.
	
		Forecast 2010 CO2 emissions in Great Britain -- (MtC)
		
			  Total emissions Saving compared to 2000 
		
		
			 2000 31.0 — 
			 2010 without Plan 31.7 +0.7 
			 2010 with Plan 30.1 -0.9 
		
	
	
		Forecast 2010 NOx emissions in England
		
			  Total emissions (Kt) Percentage change on 2000 
		
		
			 2000 501 — 
			 2010 without Plan 213 -57.5 
			 2010 with Plan 208 -58.5 
		
	
	
		Forecast 2010 PM10 emissions in England
		
			  Total emissions (Kt) Percentage change on 2000 
		
		
			 2000 20.3 — 
			 2010 without Plan 11.1 -45.3 
			 2010 with Plan 11.0 -45.8 
		
	
	Source:
	"Transport 2010: The Background Analysis", Figures 14 and 15. DETR, July 2000

Standard Spending Assessment

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to bring up to the national average the standard spending assessment for the over 65s in Devon for the financial year 2002–03.

Alan Whitehead: We announced the provisional 2002–03 local government finance settlement for consultation on 4 December 2001. It does not include any proposals to change the current standard spending assessment methodology for elderly social services. However, we have also announced that 2002–03 will be the last year to use this system. We intend to introduce a fairer, more intelligible formula-based approach for use in 2003–04.
	We are actively involving local government in our review of the system, and we will be consulting widely before taking final decisions on the best way forward.

3 Marsham Street

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has responsibility for the former Department of the Environment building at 3 Marsham street.

Alan Whitehead: I presume that the hon. Member means 43 Marsham street, in which case the answer is yes.
	My Department holds a lease of the whole of Romney house which expires on 24 December 2003.

Urban Regeneration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by his Department; how much each scheme has available to invest; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997 (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils and (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

Sally Keeble: The Department is collating the information and I will write to my hon. Friend when it is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Tolls

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the level of tolls are on major (a) bridges, (b) tunnels and (c) roads in the United Kingdom.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions only has policy responsibility for tolled undertakings in England. My hon. Friend should contact the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales for information about tolled undertakings within their jurisdiction.
	Following is a list of major tolled bridges and tunnels (there are currently no major tolled roads open in England) and the tolls charged for motorcars and large goods vehicles:
	
		£ 
		
			 Undertaking Motorcar Large goods vehicle 
		
		
			 Dartford Crossings (each way) 1.00 2.90 
			 Humber Bridge (each way) 2.40 9.60 to 16.10 
			 Mersey Tunnels (each way) 1.20 2.40 to 4.80 
			 Severn Bridges (one way) 4.40 13.30 
			 Tamar Bridge (one way) 1.00 2.50 to 5.50 
			 Tyne Tunnel (each way) 1.00 1.20

Transport Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of (a) public spending and (b) GDP will be taken up by investment in transport infrastructure in each of the next three years.

John Spellar: The proportion of total public spending that will be taken up by public investment in transport infrastructure and rolling stock for the three-year period 2001–02 to 2003–04 will be 1.0 per cent., 1.2 per cent. and 1.6 per cent. respectively. A proportion for 2004–05 is not available, because a figure for total public expenditure for that year is not available.
	The proportion of GDP that will be taken up by total investment in transport infrastructure and rolling stock for the four-year period 2001–02 to 2004–05 will be 0.9 per cent., 1.0 per cent., 1.1 per cent. and 1.1 per cent. respectively.

Road Crossings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what legal requirements exist to require local authorities to provide fixed crossings on major roads close to schools.

Sally Keeble: There are no legal requirements compelling local highway authorities to provide pedestrian crossings. Local authorities have powers to provide crossings on their roads under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Automatic Train Protection

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the introduction of automatic train protection on the ability of the rail industry to manage other major projects at the same time;
	(2)  if it remains his policy to require the rail industry to introduce ATP; and by what date.

John Spellar: Under existing law, by the end of 2003 a train protection system should be in service wherever trains are operated. Where it is reasonably practicable to install it, this means automatic train protection (ATP). European Interoperability regulations will also require the European rail traffic management system (ERTMS), which includes ATP, to be fitted in certain circumstances. In addition, the Government have undertaken to bring measures arising from the public inquiry into train protection chaired jointly by Lord Cullen and Professor Uff within the 10-Year Plan for Transport.
	The Health and Safety Commission are preparing advice for the Government on a realistic timetable for extending automatic train protection coverage. This advice will take account of the industry's ability to manage other projects at the same time.

Rail Industry

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions his Department has had with its counterpart in the Netherlands relating to competition in the rail industry.

John Spellar: Officials in my Department and the Strategic Rail Authority are in regular contact with their Dutch counterparts on a number of issues.

Rail Safety

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is his policy to enforce the transition to cup and cone train linkages by the end of 2003.

John Spellar: The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require Mark 1 passenger rolling stock to be modified by the end of 2002, and to be withdrawn from service by the end of 2004. Enforcement of these regulations rests with the Health and Safety Executive. The Executive can grant exemptions from the requirements, but I understand that no application for exemption has yet been received.

Rail Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what further measures he will put in place to control the quality of maintenance and repair of rail tracks and other track infrastructure.

John Spellar: Railtrack has the legal duty to ensure that the infrastructure is properly maintained. This involves ensuring that work undertaken by its infrastructure contractors is of proper quality.

Rail Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he is taking to measure and control the quality of train wheel maintenance.

John Spellar: Individual train companies are responsible under health and safety law for the maintenance and replacement of train wheels to ensure they remain safe. Railtrack, train operators, rolling stock suppliers and infrastructure maintainers are co-operating to implement measures aimed at improving the quality of the wheel-rail interaction.

Rail Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of derailments have been caused by (a) track failures, (b) train wheel failures and (c) foreign items on the track, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Spellar: The Health and Safety Executive does not classify derailments in the form requested. Track failures and train wheel failures are both classified as track defects by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate. The number of derailments due to different types of defects during the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Locomotive 4 2 2 3 1 
			 Carriages 6 10 12 2 7 
			 Track 46 36 53 39 29 
			 Signalling apparatus 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Over-line equipment 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other structures 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Combined defects 1 1 1 1 3 
			 Traction and Braking shocks 1 0 7 5 5 
			  
			 Total 60 49 75 50 46 
		
	
	Derailments specifically due to foreign objects are not separately classified. They are included in the figures as follows.
	
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Snow, landslides, floods, etc. 1 1 3 2 5 
			 Animals on line 1 0 0 2 0 
			 Vandalism 4 1 4 2 5 
			 Level crossing 0 0 0 0 2 
			  
			 Total 6 2 7 6 12

Rail Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact ambient temperature has on rail track failures.

John Spellar: The assessment of impact ambient temperatures on rail track failures is a matter for Railtrack. They have undertaken considerable research to understand the relationship between temperature and the effect on track failure and have implemented necessary control measures.

Rail Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of train weight on rail track failures; and if he plans to introduce new weight regulations.

John Spellar: Controls on the routing of trains already take account of their weight and restrictions apply on certain routes. There are no proposals to introduce new train weight regulations.

Rail Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to restrict train speed and weight to prevent track failures.

John Spellar: Railtrack have information on traffic flows using their infrastructure and are responsible for ensuring the proper level of maintenance and replacement of the track in order to keep it in a safe condition.

Rail Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many derailments have occurred in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Spellar: The numbers of derailments reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Total derailments 
		
		
			 1996–97 119 
			 1997–98 93 
			 1998–99 117 
			 1999–2000 89 
			 2000–01 93 
		
	
	Further information of derailments and other railway safety data can be found in the Chief Inspector of Railways annual reports on railway safety, copies of which are available in both House Libraries.

Ministerial Meetings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues last met officials from the RMT.

John Spellar: Ministers meet representatives of railway trade unions and other relevant organisations in the industry on a regular basis.

Bus Fuel Rebate Scheme

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much was paid (a) in total and (b) to individual bus companies under the bus fuel rebate scheme in each of the last seven years.

Sally Keeble: Total expenditure on bus fuel duty rebate in Great Britain in each of the last seven years was as follows.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1994–95 224 
			 1995–96 229 
			 1996–97 228 
			 1997–98 227 
			 1998–99 (16)271 
			 1999–2000 (17)333 
			 2000–01 (18)362 
		
	
	(16) England £222 million
	(17) England £277 million
	(18) England £301 million
	From 1998–99 onwards my Department has been responsible for funding rebate payments to bus operators only in England; the totals are shown above. The funding of rebate payments to operators in Scotland and Wales is now the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and National Assembly for Wales respectively, though my Department continues to administer those payments at their request.
	There are some 1,800 operators who receive the rebate. The amounts received by individual claimants are regarded as commercially confidential.

Traffic Signs

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1989 Guildford Demonstration Project research into traffic sign conspicuity.

Sally Keeble: The Guildford Direction Signs Demonstration Project trialled a series of measures aimed at improving the overall quality of direction signs and making them easier for drivers to follow. No formal report was published, but the lessons learned were incorporated into the new Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions which came into force in 1994. Guidance on the correct use and design of signs was published in 1994 in Local Transport Note 1/94 "The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs" and 2/94 "Directional and Informatory Signs Interim Design Notes". The latter was superseded in 1997 by Chapter 7 of the Traffic Signs Manual "The Design of Traffic Signs". All were published by the Stationery Office.

London Buses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) bus services and (b) night bus services in London were cancelled due to (i) breakdowns and (ii) lack of drivers, on a borough basis in each year since 1997.

Sally Keeble: This is a matter for Transport for London (TfL). However, TfL have provided the following information which may be helpful.
	Bus services in London are competitively tendered and run under contract to TfL by a number of private bus operating companies. Service losses are measured in terms of bus kilometres and used as one of the key performance indicators of service delivery.
	Performance since 1997–98 is shown in the table. It is not possible to give figures for kilometres not operated broken down by borough. Bus routes, by their nature, cross borough boundaries and very few routes run wholly within one borough.
	The two main categories of lost kilometres shown are:
	Staff—resulting from journeys cancelled owing to the lack of a driver and/or a conductor.
	Engineering—resulting from journeys cancelled or curtailed owing to the lack of a suitable vehicle or because of mechanical breakdown.
	Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available. However, TfL have indicated that between April to December 2001 there was a progressive drop in the amount of kilometres lost for staffing reasons. This performance measure continues to be significantly better than the level in the preceding 12 months, despite a higher number of scheduled kilometres.
	
		
			Percentage of scheduled kilometres lost due to: Scheduled 
			 Financial year Staffing Engineering kilometres (Million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 0.8 0.4 348 
			 1998–99 1.0 0.5 350 
			 1999–2000 1.9 0.5 364 
			 000–01 2.0 0.6 374 
			 2001(19) 1.2 0.5 289 
		
	
	(19) 1 April to 28 December
	Night Bus Services
	In 2000–01 1 per cent. of scheduled kilometres were not operated by night buses. Of this, 0.8 per cent. was due to staffing and 0.2 per cent. due to mechanical reasons.
	Separate data for night bus services are not available for years before 2000–01.

Planning Appeals (Listed Buildings)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to refer planning appeals involving listed buildings to a panel of inspectors for determination when a single inspector has made a ruling contrary to the view of English Heritage; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Listed building appeals involving Grade I and II* listed buildings are already decided by the Secretary of State rather than by planning inspectors. Other appeals involving listed buildings may also be recovered for decision by the Secretary of State at his discretion. Where appeals are determined by individual planning inspectors, however, I am satisfied that they are equipped to consider all relevant aspects of the case. It is for them to decide the weight that should be attached to the views of English Heritage and other consultees and to other material considerations in the light of all the circumstances of the particular case. We have no plans to change the current arrangements.

Homelessness

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people are estimated to be homeless in the UK; and what proportion are aged (a) over 50 and (b) under 18.

Sally Keeble: The Department collects information about action by local authorities in England under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts. In the third quarter of 2001, 30,910 households were accepted by local authorities as being eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category. The latest Statutory Homelessness Statistical Release, issued on 11 December 2001, presents these and other related figures up to the end of September 2001, and copies are available in the Library.
	An analysis by the age of the household head is not collected and so precise information about the proportion aged over 50 or under 18 is not available centrally. However, the priority need categories include those where one or more household members are considered vulnerable due to old age, typically, of pensionable age or youth, typically, a non-dependant aged 16–18. Estimates of cases where authorities regarded one of these categories to be the most crucial in determining priority need are given in the table.
	
		Homeless households accepted by local authorities in England by priority need category—July to September 2001
		
			  Number As percentage of all acceptances 
		
		
			  Household member vulnerable due to: 
			 Old age 1,110 3.6 
			 Young person 1,500 3.8 
		
	
	Note:
	Households containing vulnerable member(s) but accepted under another priority need category (such as with dependent children or with a pregnant woman) cannot be separately identified and are not included in these figures.
	Source:
	DTLR Statutory Homelessness: England Third Quarter 2001 Statistical Release
	For information about other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

Electrically Powered Vehicles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government have taken to assist the introduction of electrically powered vehicles and other alternatives to the petrol fuelled motor vehicle.

John Spellar: The Government are encouraging the introduction of cleaner vehicles, such as those powered by electricity and gas, through targeted grants and fiscal incentives.
	The Energy Saving Trust's PowerShift programme, which is funded by my Department, provides grants towards the additional cost of vehicles running on electricity and gas. The programme started in 1996 and has proved very successful to date in helping to generate a significant increase in demand for alternative fuel vehicles, in particular for LPG cars. PowerShift has a total budget of £10 million for this financial year with £20 million over the next two years and is aiming to support the purchase and conversion of up to 35,000 cleaner fuel vehicles in this period.
	From 1 March 2001, vehicle excise duty for new cars has been graduated on the basis of CO 2 emissions. Under the new scheme, gas-powered cars benefit from a modest discount and electric vehicles are exempt from the tax altogether. In addition, there is a low rate of duty on road gas fuels—around 6p per litre, compared with 45.82p per litre on petrol and diesel.
	Looking beyond existing clean vehicle options, the Government recently issued a discussion document entitled "Powering Future Vehicles" which sets out and has invited comment on the UK's draft strategy for supporting the shift to low carbon road transport. This paper sets out the UK strategy for promoting the development, introduction and take-up of fuel cell and other new technologies—and for ensuring that the UK automotive industry is fully engaged in the technology.

Departmental Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in his Department.

Alan Whitehead: The Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism. The report for the year 2000 will be published shortly. We are committed to managing sickness absence effectively and are seeking to reduce the incidence within the Department.

Newspaper Advertising

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the expenditure of his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on newspaper advertising by title in each year since 1997.

Alan Whitehead: For details of my Department's advertising spend since 1997 (covering DETR and DTLR) by media, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 9 November 2001 Official Report, column 453W.
	Each campaign may use national and regional media. For national, a mix of broadsheets and tabloids have been used frequently. For regional advertising, space has been taken in many prominent regional newspapers as well as hundreds of more local papers. The target audience/ message to be conveyed influence our choice of media and details of advertising by title could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	For details of total expenditure by the Department's agencies and NDPBs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverly Hughes) to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 23 April 2001, Official Report, column 58W. A breakdown of agency/ NDPB expenditure on newspaper advertising by title could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Central Railway

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the references to Central Railway in the documentation for the M1 multi-modal study reflect his policy on the proposal.

John Spellar: The Government are considering carefully Central Railway's proposals for a hybrid Bill as a means of authorising its scheme. We will take a view on the issues raised by proposals and respond to Central Railway in due course.
	Multi-modal studies are considering the contribution all modes of transport can make to solving transport problems around the country. The M1 (North South Movements in the East Midlands) Multi-Modal Study has yet to make any specific recommendations.

Buses (Essex)

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much was paid under the rural bus subsidy grant to schemes affecting the county of Essex in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001.

Sally Keeble: The Rural Bus Subsidy Grant scheme was introduced in 1998–99. RBSG is paid direct to the local authority for the support of scheduled local bus services, it is for the local authority to decide which services to support using this funding. The grant payments for the county of Essex are given in the table:
	
		
			  Grant (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99 693,164 
			 1999–2000 735,774 
			 2000–01 795,231 
			 2001–02 (20)1,341,087 
		
	
	(20) Allocation

Buses

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure that the proposed system of local authority funding for 2003–04 will be fair; and whether the new system will be fully implemented by 2003–04.

Alan Whitehead: We are working with local government and other stakeholders to make the grant distribution system fairer and more intelligible. The changes will take effect from April 2003.

Piracy

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to reduce the risk presented by piracy to UK-registered or owned shipping.

John Spellar: The United Kingdom Government have taken positive steps to identify and deal with the problem of piracy against ships at sea.
	This includes readily available guidance to UK seafarers and shipowners on how to avoid or deal with acts of piracy. It has been made available on the internet to ensure a wide coverage.
	Concerted action by the international community is the key to addressing the problem. In the past few years the UK has supported and participated in counter piracy missions and seminars in "hotspot" areas sponsored by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Last year, through the IMO, we prepared codes of practice for the investigation of piracy incidents and the registration of "phantom" (stolen) ships. These codes have now been issued as circulars to all IMO member states and adopted at the IMO General Assembly. We continue to raise the matter in other international fora, including the United Nations General Assembly, to highlight the issue and raised the topic at ministerial level in areas where the problem continues to be of concern. We also meet the maritime industry on a regular basis to discuss how best we can continue to deal with the issue and whether there are any new ways of tackling the problem. We are currently reviewing the use of technical aids to counter piracy and will issue further advice to the industry when this is completed.

STCW 95 Standards

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many applications for dispensation from the requirement to validate certificates to STCW 95 standards have been granted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

John Spellar: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), has granted no dispensations from the requirement to validate certificates to STCW 95 standards. No revalidation to STCW 95 will be given unless the necessary short courses have been completed.
	However, a lack of places on short training courses has meant that some officers have not been able to revalidate in time for the 1 February deadline. In December, with the support of industry and the officers' union NUMAST, the MCA issued an Advice Note that enables dispensations to be applied for up to 31 January 2002, with a maximum validity of up to 31 July 2002. These are issued under Article VIII of STCW 95, are ship specific, non-renewable and apply only to officers serving below the ranks of Master and Chief Engineer, enabling them to complete the necessary courses. The number of those applying for these dispensations will not be known until later in February.

Maritime Security

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he plans to make to the International Maritime Organisation concerning the adequacy of existing shipping and port security measures.

John Spellar: The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will hold an additional, intercessional meeting from 11 to 15 February to review proposals for further maritime and port security measures. Based on its own work since September, the Government intend to make an active contribution to that review.

Building Inspectors

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to monitor the quality of the work of approved independent building inspectors following the introduction of statutory instrument 2532.

Alan Whitehead: My Department cannot intervene in specific decisions taken by building control bodies, but we would carefully consider any complaints about the quality of the building control service provided by an inspector approved by the Secretary of State under Part II of the Building Act 1984.
	Any complaints about the quality of service provided by inspectors approved under Part II of the Act by the Construction Industry Council would be considered by that council. All inspectors approved under Part II of the Act must periodically apply to the Construction Industry Council for re-approval.
	In addition, my Department is participating in the work of the Building Control Performance Standards Advisory Group, which is drawing up proposals for performance indicators that will apply both to approved inspectors and to building control departments of local authorities.

Air Travel Trust Fund

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation to provide powers to impose a levy to recoup the costs of the Air Travel Trust Fund set up in 1975.

John Spellar: A draft Bill to secure the necessary powers to impose a levy will be introduced as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

Disused Railway Lines

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to safeguard the trackbed of disused railway lines where lines could be re-opened; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has instituted a review process for disposals of former British Rail non-operational land which was not transferred to Railtrack at privatisation. The process involves a property advisory group, which includes representatives of the Rail Passengers Council, the Rail Freight Group and local authorities, advising the SRA on potential future use of sites for rail and other integrated transport uses. In this way sites with potential for future transport use are identified while surplus sites can be sold with proceeds re-invested by the SRA in support of its objectives. Where disused lines are in other ownership the local planning authority may restrict development which may prevent future re-opening.

Motorcycles

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes.

Sally Keeble: Local authorities can make traffic regulation orders allowing motorcycles or other vehicles to use bus lanes. The Department's advice does not promote this but we are carrying out research to see whether this should be changed. The Secretary of State can permit motorcycle use of bus lanes on trunk roads and motorways if he considers it appropriate.

Heathrow

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what plans he has for compensation for residents living under the flight path to Heathrow Airport;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with BAA on raising airport taxes to pay for compensation to residents living under the Heathrow flight path.

John Spellar: We have no such plans.

Ministerial Travel (India)

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what the financial implications were to his Department of his recent return from India earlier than he had planned;
	(2)  what the cost was to public funds of the travel and accommodation involved in his planned meetings in India in January with Indian Government representatives.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 11 January 2002
	None.

Number Plates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the new regulations on Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) will be laid before Parliament.

John Spellar: Amendments to the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 and the Road Vehicles (Lighting) Regulations 1979 are required. The legal process will commence following completion of technical discussions with the number plate industry in the next week or so.

Number Plates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether (a) car number plate manufacturers can produce plates with a national identifier in the UK in accordance with the DTLR press release of 28 December and (b) vehicle owners can use such plates in advance of the new regulations being promulgated.

John Spellar: Negotiations are currently taking place with the number plate industry about specific designs in advance of an amendment to the regulations. In the meantime, manufacturers may produce number plates displaying the flags and national identifiers as announced on 28 December.
	Current regulations do not allow for the display of national flags on number plates. However, in the short period before the regulations are amended the police have been requested not to prosecute those who choose to display national flags and national identifiers on vehicle number plates.

Speed Cameras

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many automatic speeding cameras were in operation at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what the total was in each of the past 10 years.

John Spellar: holding answer 14 January 2002
	This information is not collected centrally. It is for local highway authorities, in conjunction with the police, to decide where speed cameras are deployed. Guidance on deployment is available to local authorities in Circular Roads 1–92.

Railtrack

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will publish the grant payment deed for (a) NGCL and (b) Renewco;
	(2)  if the grant payment deed for NGCL formed part of the paper presented to the court on 8 October for consideration of his Department's petition to place Railtrack plc into administration;
	(3)  when the grant payment deed for NGCL was (a) drawn up and (b) passed to the Office for National Statistics.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 10 December 2001
	The SRA prepared and negotiated a draft Deed of Payment of SRA grant for NGCL (ie Renewco) over the summer. A draft was sent to the ONS on 17 September. The draft was not relevant to the decision to take Railtrack into administration.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 494W, ref. 21483, on what date he expects a response to the application.

John Spellar: A response to the Secretary of State's application is a matter for the European Commission.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list the organisations with which he or his Department have held meetings to discuss the future structure of Railtrack since 7 October 2001;
	(2)  if he will list the external organisations with which he and his Department held discussions about Railtrack between 1 July and 7 October 2001.

John Spellar: Ministers and departmental officials have held meetings with a wide range of organisations about Railtrack since July 2001, including Railtrack and its advisers, the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR), the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), trade unions, the administrator, potential bidders and groups representing passengers, shareholders and transport interests more widely.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress made to date in bringing Railtrack out of administration.

John Spellar: This is a matter for the administrator. He shares the Government's objective that the process should be completed as quickly as possible.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 494W, ref 21483, if the amounts exceed the specific funding provisions encompassed in the commercial loan agreement.

John Spellar: Yes.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assistance he has requested from the Railtrack administrator under section 8.1.3 of the commercial loan agreement.

John Spellar: None.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the Railtrack administrator will be permitted to sell railway property assets to raise funding to repay the liabilities incurred under the commercial loan agreement.

John Spellar: The Railtrack administrator is not permitted to sell Railtrack plc property assets to raise funding to repay the commercial loan agreement.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many relevant dates for repayment have been defined, as referred to in section 9.3 of the Railtrack commercial loan agreement.

John Spellar: None.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 495W, Ref. 23211, for what purpose the funding is required.

John Spellar: No funding has as yet been requested from this facility.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the overspend in relation to the individual learning accounts scheme; and what impact she expects this to have on her Department's budget in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

John Healey: holding answer 11 January 2002
	At 31 December the overspend on individual learning accounts was £62.9 million. This takes account of the total budget available and expenditure in England over the two years 2000–01 and 2001–02. This includes both DfES budget allocations and money that has been recycled from TEC resources. The final overspend, which will not be known until later in 2002–03, will depend upon a number of factors, in particular: the full extent of claims outstanding and bookings for learning that had been confirmed by 23 November; the extent to which claims will be validated after investigation; and analysis by officials and the amount of money recouped from providers who have filed invalid claims for payment.
	The final overspend will be met from within the Department's existing resources. The majority of financial activity will have occurred in 2001–02, minimising the impact on the 2002–03 budget.

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what investigations are taking place in relation to alleged fraud in the operation of the individual learning accounts scheme with particular reference to (a) the contractor Capita, (b) its contractors and (c) its employees.

John Healey: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The Department's Special Investigation Unit has had 86 learning providers referred to it: four learning providers did not require investigation and 82 learning providers are in the process of being investigated. Of these, the police are already investigating 13 learning providers and the SIU is discussing a further 42 with the police. To date the police have made 39 arrests in connection with cases involving two registered learning providers. One individual has been charged.
	Investigations into the control and security arrangements that were in place in the ILA system continue and we have engaged consultants from Cap Gemini to support that process. We are working closely with Capita on this work.

Standard Spending Assessment

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will give the standard spending assessment per pupil for the primary and secondary sectors for (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) Suffolk in each year from 1990–91 to 2001–02, adjusted for inflation at current values;
	(2)  if she will list the standard spending assessments per pupil for the primary and secondary sectors by local education authority for England and Wales in each year from 1990–91 to 2001–02, and projected for the financial year 2002–03, adjusted for inflation at current values.

Stephen Timms: The information requested for England is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries. Funding for schools in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

Standard Spending Assessment

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for shire counties (a) the education service block standard spending assessment for each county divided by the total number of full-time equivalent pupils financed by that county, (b) the primary education service sub block SSA for each county, divided by the number of primary pupils financed by that county and (c) the secondary education service sub block SSA for each county divided by the number of secondary pupils financed by that county, in the financial year 2002–03.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		Provisional education SSA per pupil for 2002–03
		
			  LEA Primary per 5–10 pupil Secondary per 11–15 pupil Total education per 4–19 pupil(21) 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 2,663 3,408 3,074 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,656 3,411 3,072 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,533 3,225 2,859 
			 Cheshire 2,469 3,149 2,826 
			 Cornwall 2,594 3,335 3,000 
			 Cumbria 2,581 3,299 2,965 
			 Derbyshire 2,492 3,197 2,848 
			 Devon 2,559 3,290 2,919 
			 Dorset 2,494 3,179 2,851 
			 Durham 2,628 3,378 3,039 
			 East Sussex 2,713 3,498 3,116 
			 Essex 2,710 3,465 3,094 
			 Gloucestershire 2,497 3,186 2,847 
			 Hampshire 2,582 3,322 2,901 
			 Hertfordshire 2,750 3,503 3,169 
			 Kent 2,708 3,470 3,105 
			 Lancashire 2,589 3,319 2,962 
			 Leicestershire 2,411 3,094 2,764 
			 Lincolnshire 2,586 3,311 2,972 
			 Norfolk 2,606 3,325 2,978 
			 North Yorkshire 2,557 3,244 2,927 
			 Northamptonshire 2,529 3,232 2,890 
			 Northumberland 2,562 3,288 2,983 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,506 3,219 2,913 
			 Oxfordshire 2,671 3,399 3,057 
			 Shropshire 2,534 3,228 2,875 
			 Somerset 2,529 3,245 2,856 
			 Staffordshire 2,451 3,146 2,827 
			 Suffolk 2,526 3,221 2,907 
			 Surrey 2,718 3,466 3,072 
			 Warwickshire 2,489 3,173 2,832 
			 West Sussex 2,638 3,365 3,007 
			 Wiltshire 2,509 3,220 2,844 
			 Worcestershire 2,472 3,157 2,817 
		
	
	(21) Total education SSA divided by total pupils aged 4 to 19 (includes 4-year-olds in PVI—private and voluntary institutions.

Learning Disabilities (Exclusion Guidance)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she gives to education authorities on the exclusion of over 25s with learning disabilities from activities and clubs on the basis of their age.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 11 January 2002
	Local education authorities fund Statutory Youth Services directly. Their core client group is 13 to 19, although historically services will operate within the age range of 11 to 25. Therefore, upon reaching the age of 25 and over the persons involved would transfer to an adult education group. The Department does not issue guidance to local education authorities on the detailed delivery of its services.

Capital Assets

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's answer of 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 889W, on capital assets, if she will place in the Library information on the accounting treatment of the public private partnership projects relating to (a) Birmingham Schools refurbishment project, (b) Sheffield city council Group Schools Projects, (c) Imperial College, (d) Essex LEA New School, Loughton, (e) Kingston upon Hull Primary School and (f) Human Resources Partnership; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The following private finance initiative projects have all been assessed against the Accounting Standards Board financial reporting standard known as FRS5:
	Birmingham group schools;
	Sheffield city council group schools;
	Essex LEA—Loughton school;
	Kingston upon Hull primary school.
	All of these projects were considered by the financial advisers of the LEAs concerned to be 'off-balance sheet'. In each case, the district auditor for the authority confirmed that they had not seen any evidence that would conflict with that judgment.
	Imperial College is an independent body and the Secretary of State is not required to hold information on its commercial contracts or activities. The Employment Service human resource partnership project is a matter for the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Voluntary Aided Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the proposed reduction in contribution by the governors of voluntary aided schools towards building costs is included in the broadly neutral reallocation of costs between governors, local education authorities and her Department; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: As part of our reform of the funding of premises work at Voluntary Aided (VA) schools, we are proposing that the governing bodies of those schools would be liable for capital work to virtually all of the school premises, excluding playing fields. This would replace the current complex set of arrangements for dividing liability between governing bodies and local education authorities (LEAs). The proposed new arrangements would provide greater flexibility in the way in which capital funds can be used, and lead to a substantial streamlining of the related administrative and funding processes.
	Our estimate of the financial impact of the proposed changes takes account of the average initial and ongoing costs of providing and maintaining VA school buildings, and of how these costs would fall to the parties involved. Our estimates have demonstrated that most of the proposed increase in the standard rate of grant support—from 85 per cent. to 90 per cent.—would be required to meet the additional premises liabilities which would transfer from LEAs to VA school governing bodies.
	Implementation of the reforms is subject to approval under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. Further information on the proposals, including our overall assessment of cost neutrality, is provided in the Department's Statement which accompanied the proposed draft Regulatory Reform Order. Copies of the relevant documents are available in the House of Commons Library.

Voluntary Aided Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will place in the Library a copy of the responses received to "Responsibilities for Premises Work at Voluntary Aided Schools"; and if she will provide a list of respondents.

John Healey: holding answer 9 January 2002
	A copy of the Department's statement, together with the proposed draft Regulatory Reform Order, has been placed in the Library. The statement contains, at Annexe A, a list of who was consulted, and indicates those who responded. The statement also contains, at Annexe B, details of the responses to the consultation.

Sure Start

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) parents and (b) children have had contact with Sure Start in Battersea since its inception.

Yvette Cooper: Since Sure Start Battersea was approved in October 2000 it has been in contact with approximately 190 different children under four between October 2000 and November 2001. The programme is likely to have been in contact with many of these children many times over this period.
	No information is available on the number of parents seen.

Schools Access Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in the Buckingham constituency have benefited from the Schools Access Initiative; and how much each school was awarded.

John Healey: The Schools Access Initiative provides resources to make mainstream schools accessible to pupils with disabilities and special educational needs. Over the three year period 2001–02 to 2003–04 we are investing £220 million in the Schools Access Initiative. This is crucial to the Government's commitment to improving educational standards for all children and working towards a more inclusive approach for children with disabilities and special educational needs.
	The funding is allocated to local education authorities and it is for each authority to decide its priority schemes. At the end of each financial year, LEAs are required to report back to the Department the projects funded from the Schools Access Initiative. The table lists the schools in the Buckingham constituency that have received funding from the Schools Access Initiative.
	
		£ 
		
			 School name Total project cost 
		
		
			 1996–97  
			 Page Hill First School 3,296 
			 1997–98  
			 Page Hill First School 7,042 
			 1998–99  
			 Page Hill First School 4,260 
			 Royal Latin Grammar School 10,000 
			 1999–2000  
			 Royal Latin Grammar School 11,978 
			 Buckingham Middle School 10,046

Teacher Numbers

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and secondary teachers, and (b) school support staff there were per thousand of population in (i) Staffordshire (ii) other shire authorities in each year since 1995.

Stephen Timms: Full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools in existing and former non-metropolitan local authorities 1 , per thousand of population 2 , in January of each year, were as follows:
	
		
			   1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Isles of Scilly 13.3 13.4 10.6 11.5 11.1 8.8 10.0 
			 Former Avon 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.1 7.0 7.0 7.2 
			 Former Cleveland 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.6 8.5 8.7 8.7 
			 Former Humberside 7.9 7.9 7.7 7.6 7.7 8.0 8.0 
			 Former North Yorkshire 7.7 7.8 7.7 7.6 7.8 8.0 8.1 
			 Former Bedfordshire 8.8 8.6 8.6 8.5 8.4 8.4 8.2 
			 Former Buckinghamshire 7.9 7.8 7.5 7.7 7.6 7.7 7.8 
			 Former Derbyshire 7.6 7.6 7.4 7.2 7.2 7.3 7.6 
			 Former Dorset 6.3 6.2 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.7 6.9 
			 Former Durham 7.9 7.9 7.7 7.7 7.8 7.8 7.8 
			 Former East Sussex 6.6 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.5 6.6 
			 Former Hampshire 7.1 7.0 7.0 6.9 7.0 6.9 6.9 
			 Former Leicestershire 8.2 8.1 8.0 7.9 8.1 8.0 8.3 
			 Former Staffordshire 7.4 7.6 7.6 7.5 7.7 7.7 7.8 
			 Former Wiltshire 7.8 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.2 7.5 
			 Former Berkshire 7.6 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.4 7.5 7.5 
			 Former Cambridgeshire 7.8 7.6 7.3 7.2 7.2 7.3 7.3 
			 Former Cheshire 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.1 8.1 8.2 8.2 
			 Former Devon 6.9 6.9 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.1 7.2 
			 Former Essex 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.5 7.7 7.6 7.8 
			 Former Hereford and Worcester 7.5 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.4 7.5 
			 Former Kent 7.9 8.0 8.1 8.0 7.9 8.1 8.1 
			 Former Lancashire 8.0 7.8 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.0 7.9 
			 Former Nottinghamshire 7.6 7.4 7.2 7.3 7.3 7.5 7.5 
			 Former Shropshire 7.7 7.6 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.5 7.8 
			 Cornwall 7.4 7.3 7.3 7.2 7.1 7.3 7.4 
			 Cumbria 8.0 7.9 8.0 8.0 8.2 8.4 8.3 
			 Gloucestershire 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.6 7.6 7.7 7.8 
			 Hertfordshire 8.5 8.5 8.4 8.2 8.3 8.2 8.3 
			 Isle of Wight 7.8 7.7 7.8 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.2 
			 Lincolnshire 7.7 7.9 7.9 7.8 7.6 7.6 8.0 
			 Norfolk 7.4 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.2 7.1 7.2 
			 Northamptonshire 9.2 8.8 8.6 8.3 8.3 8.5 8.2 
			 Northumberland 8.4 8.2 8.3 8.0 8.1 8.0 8.2 
			 Oxfordshire 7.1 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.5 6.9 7.1 
			 Somerset 7.3 7.0 6.9 6.9 6.6 6.9 7.3 
			 Suffolk 7.9 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.9 7.8 7.9 
			 Surrey 6.1 6.5 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.5 6.4 
			 Warwickshire 7.8 7.5 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.8 
			 West Sussex 7.0 7.0 6.9 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 
			 
			 England 7.8 7.7 7.7 7.6 7.7 7.7 7.8 
		
	
	(22) To give consistent time series, data for new authorities created by local government re-organisation in 1996, 1997 and 1998 have been added together to produce data for the former authority areas.
	(23) Estimated population data provided by the Office for National Statistics.
	Full-time equivalent non-teaching staff 1 in maintained primary and secondary schools in existing and former non-metropolitan local authorities 2 , per thousand of population 3 , in January of each year, were as follows:
	
		
			   1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Isles of Scilly 2.7 3.2 2.9 3.2 2.9 3.2 4.5 
			 Former Avon 2.0 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.8 
			 Former Cleveland 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.6 3.4 
			 Former Humberside 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.8 3.0 3.7 
			 Former North Yorkshire 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.6 
			 Former Bedfordshire 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.4 4.0 
			 Former Buckinghamshire 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.7 3.1 
			 Former Derbyshire 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.6 3.1 
			 Former Dorset 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.4 2.7 3.2 
			 Former Durham 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.3 
			 Former East Sussex 1.7 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.6 3.0 
			 Former Hampshire 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.4 
			 Former Leicestershire 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.6 
			 Former Staffordshire 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.1 
			 Former Wiltshire 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.8 3.2 
			 Former Berkshire 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.7 2.9 3.4 
			 Former Cambridgeshire 2.9 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.8 
			 Former Cheshire 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.7 
			 Former Devon 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.7 2.9 3.4 
			 Former Essex 2.3 2.5 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.7 
			 Former Hereford and Worcester 1.5 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.4 2.6 
			 Former Kent 2.3 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.3 3.7 
			 Former Lancashire 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.6 3.0 
			 Former Nottinghamshire 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.6 3.1 
			 Former Shropshire 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.2 
			 Cornwall 2.7 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.4 3.7 3.9 
			 Cumbria 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.8 
			 Gloucestershire 1.8 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.7 
			 Hertfordshire 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.3 
			 Isle of Wight 2.6 2.8 2.9 3.3 3.8 4.1 5.1 
			 Lincolnshire 2.0 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.6 3.1 
			 Norfolk 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.7 3.3 
			 Northamptonshire 2.3 2.6 2.7 2.9 3.0 3.5 4.1 
			 Northumberland 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.5 2.9 
			 Oxfordshire 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.8 3.1 
			 Somerset 2.7 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.7 
			 Suffolk 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.8 
			 Surrey 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.8 
			 Warwickshire 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.8 3.2 
			 West Sussex 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.8 3.1 
			 
			 England 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.8 3.3 
		
	
	(24) Non-teaching staff includes teaching assistants, administrative staff, technicians and other education support staff.
	(25) To give consistent time series, data for new authorities created by local government re-organisation in 1996,1997 and 1998 have been added together to produce data for the former authorities areas.
	(26) Estimated population data provided by the Office for National Statistics.

Children and Young Persons Unit

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people work in the Children and Young Persons Unit in her Department.

John Denham: 78 people currently work in the Children and Young People's Unit. That total includes full and part-time staff, people working on short-term secondments to the unit and people working jointly to the Children and Young People's Unit and the Sure Start Unit. 65 people work in the Children and Young People's Unit in London and 13 work in the Government offices in the regions.

Children and Young Persons Unit

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget is for the Children and Young Persons Unit in her Department.

John Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Woodward) on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 254W.

Correspondence

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to reply to the hon. Member for Colchester's letter to her of 26 November 2001 concerning St. George's Infant School, Colchester.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills replied to the hon. Member's letter of 26 November 2001 on 11 January 2002.

Teacher Vacancies (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there are in local education authority schools in Worcestershire.

Stephen Timms: There were eight vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Worcestershire in January 2001. The annual census for 2002 will be carried out on 17 January, though it will be some time before all the information obtained is ready for publication.

Teachers' Pay

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many teachers in Somerset local education authority have passed the threshold for performance-related pay in round 1 of assessment;
	(2)  how many teachers in (a) England and Wales and (b) Somerset local education authority have applied to pass the threshold for performance-related pay in round 1 of assessment.

Stephen Timms: About 200,000 teachers in English local authorities—including nearly 2,000 in Somerset—applied for the threshold assessment in the first (2000) round. The proportion of teachers in Somerset assessed as meeting the standards, at about 97 per cent., is in line with the national average.

Teachers' Pay

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the number of high performing (a) classroom teachers, (b) advanced skills teachers and (c) leadership group members who will be awarded additional points on the upper pay scale in 2002–03 in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Somerset local education authority.

Stephen Timms: The number of performance points awarded to teachers and members of the leadership group will be determined by the governing bodies of individual schools. My Department will be making a special grant worth £250 million over the next two financial years available for performance points. But the purpose of this grant will be to encourage schools to award such points, not to fund a particular number of awards. Funding for teachers' pay in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Assistant Heads

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many assistant heads there were in (a) England and Wales and (b) Somerset local education authority in (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02.

Stephen Timms: In January 2001 local authorities reported 6,960 full-time assistant heads in the maintained schools sector in England, and 20 in Somerset. More assistant heads may have been appointed after the survey date.
	The information was not collected before January 2001 and is not yet available for January 2002.
	Information for Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

Teacher Assaults (Hillingdon)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers within the Hillingdon local education authority were assaulted by (a) pupils and (b) parents in each of the last four years.

Stephen Timms: The Department does not hold this data. We have also been informed that Hillingdon local education authority does not hold this information centrally.

Class Sizes

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools within the Hillingdon local education authority had 30 or more pupils in a class in (a) September 2001 and (b) January 2002.

Stephen Timms: The September class size count in 2001 showed there were 23 schools within the Hillingdon local education authority that had 30 pupils in infant classes with one teacher and one school that had 31 or more pupils in infant classes with one teacher. This data collection only gathers information on infant classes.
	For January 2001 there were 48 primary schools within the Hillingdon local education authority that had 30 pupils in a class and 35 primary schools that had 31 or more pupils in a class. The corresponding figures for secondary schools are 14 schools with 30 pupils in a class and 10 schools with 31 or more pupils in a class.
	Data on class sizes for all age groups will be collected by the Annual Schools' Census on 17 January 2002, and will be available in the spring.

Class Sizes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary school children in England and Wales are being taught in classes of over 35.

John Healey: The number of pupils in maintained primary schools in classes of over 35 taught by one teacher as at January 2001 was 93,950 (2.3 per cent.) of all pupils. This compares with 165,672 pupils (4.1 per cent.) in 1998. Average class sizes have fallen from 27.7 in 1998 to 26.7 by January 2001.
	As a result of our infant class size pledge, only 8,000 infant pupils (0.5 per cent.) were in classes of 31 or more in September 2001 compared with 485,000 (22 per cent.) in January 1998.
	For information on class sizes for schools in Wales, I refer the hon. Member to the National Assembly for Wales.

Departmental Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in her Department.

Ivan Lewis: The Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism. The report for the year 2000 will be published shortly.
	The DfES is committed to reducing sickness absence in line with the targets agreed across Whitehall.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the education maintenance allowance evaluation will be published.

Ivan Lewis: We published the first evaluation report in March 2001. This looked at the positive effect of EMAs on levels of participation in post-16 education in the first year of the scheme.
	We expect to publish reports on the second year of the scheme in the near future, including studies of the effect of EMA on drop out rates and further analysis of the effect on participation.

Secondary Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the role of local government in delivering better quality secondary education.

Stephen Timms: Our White Paper, "Schools—Achieving Success" made clear that local education authorities are key partners in delivering our aims to transform secondary education and raise standards throughout the schools system.
	LEAs have a central role to play in providing local leadership and strategic planning, and in the critically important tasks of supporting school improvement, challenging under-achievement and tackling school failure. In addition, it is important that they secure cost-effective services for schools that allow them to concentrate on delivering improved standards and that they are free to innovate.

Secondary School Places

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the adequacy of secondary school places in Kent;
	(2)  what plans she has to provide more secondary school places for the children of Aylesham.

Stephen Timms: Local education authorities (LEAs) have a duty to ensure that there are sufficient school places for their area. The Government believe that decisions concerning the supply of school places are best taken locally by the main partners in the provision of education who have knowledge of local needs. Each year LEAs must publish a school organisation plan setting out how they plan to deal with any surplus or deficit of places over a five year rolling period.
	Where an LEA can demonstrate overall growth in the need for school places, it may apply to my Department for capital funding.

Specialist Colleges

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the specialisms that specialist colleges will cover following the March 2002 round of funding; if the Government have a target number for (a) each of the specialisms and (b) each round of applications in future years; and what plans she has to increase the funding available for specialist colleges following the increase in the number of specialisms.

Stephen Timms: The March 2002 specialist school competition will cover all eight specialisms: business and enterprise, engineering, science, mathematics and computing, arts, languages, technology, and sport. As part of the Government's Sports Strategy there is a published target of 200 sports colleges by September 2004 but there are no target numbers for other specialisms. Our target is to have at least 830 specialist schools by September 2002, at least 1,000 by September 2003 and at least 1,500 by September 2005. The level of funding available for the specialist schools programme will take account of the Government's commitment to expand the number of specialist schools.

TREASURY

Public Corporations

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for the end of each year from 1990 to 2000 totals for public corporations which were at the end of 2000 classified as within the public sector for tangible assets, financial assets and financial liabilities, breaking down figures for financial assets and liabilities between claims on or liabilities to central Government and other claims or liabilities.

Andrew Smith: The Treasury does not hold balance sheet information on individual public corporations. Such information can be found in the annual reports and accounts of the public corporations. "The National Asset Register", Cm 5221, has information on the assets, but not liabilities, of individual public corporations as at end March 2000.
	Tables 3.2.9 and 10.4 of "United Kingdom National Accounts", "The Blue Book", 2001 edition, and table 1.1D of "Financial Statistics", published by the Office for National Statistics, give balance sheet information for public corporations classified as such in each year shown in the tables.

Public Employee Salaries

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the earnings are of those public employees on top salaries as defined by the relevant pay review body.

Andrew Smith: The regular annual reports of the Review Body on Senior Salaries (SSRB) cover senior military officers, the judiciary and the senior civil service. Their current rates of pay, or pay ranges, are those recommended by the SSRB last year. Details of their recommendations are given in their 46th Report (Cm 4995) published on 9 February 2001. The main pay rates, produced by applying those recommendations, are as follows.
	
		
			  Minima Maxima 
		
		
			 Senior military Officers   
			 Four star—Range 8 130,000 152,517 
			 Four star—Range 7 107,305 129,468 
			 Four star—Range 6 95,000 119,128 
			 Three star—Range 5 79,500 99,276 
			 Three star—Range 4 77,625 88,902 
			 Two star—Range 3 69,605 84,376 
			 Two star—Range 2 68,610 81,134 
			 Judiciary   
			 Group 1 — 171,375 
			 Group 1.1 — 163,213 
			 Group 2 — 157,699 
			 Group 3 — 149,897 
			 Group 4 — 132,603 
			 Group 5 — 107,346 
			 Group 6.1 — 99,420 
			 Group 6.2 — 95,666 
			 Group 7 (London) — 83,767 
			 Group 7 (outside London) — 79,767 
			 Senior civil service   
			 Permanent Secretaries 104,292 179,022 
			 Pay band 9 92,696 131,276 
			 Pay band 8 84,811 123,856 
			 Pay band 7 77,635 116,904 
			 Pay band 6 70,905 110,428 
			 Pay band 5 64,768 104,292 
			 Pay band 4 59,088 98,494 
			 Pay band 3 53,534 87,598 
			 Pay band 2 48,552 77,869 
			 Pay band 1 44,038 69,178 
		
	
	From time to time, the SSRB also makes recommendations on other senior salaries that may be referred to them, including parliamentary pay and allowances (Cm 4997, 16 March 2001), the Greater London Authority (Cm 4547, 3 February 2000) and MEPs and the devolved Administrations (Cm 4188 and 4246, 31 March 1999) but these groups are not part of their regular annual process.

EU Budget Contribution

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest figures are for the United Kingdom contribution to the European budget in each year since 1973 at current prices.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the United Kingdom's net contributions to the EC budget for the period 1973–74 to 1999–2000 can be obtained from various departmental reports of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments or, prior to 1992, Government Expenditure Plans. The net contribution figure for 2000–01 can be found at footnote 2 to Table B13 of the November 2001 pre- Budget report (Cm 5318).

Personal Savings

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of personal savings.

Ruth Kelly: In recent years the stock of households' financial assets has been at record levels in relation to disposable income.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by Department the capital expenditure under the Private Finance Initiative in each of the last four years and his estimate for the next four years (a) in real terms and (b) in cash.

Andrew Smith: Detailed figures setting out estimates of capital investment by the private sector in support of PFI deals (both signed and those at preferred bidder) have been published annually in the Financial Statement and Budget report.

Public Expenditure

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 328W, on public expenditure, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change between the projections for (a) Adjustments for Public Corporations and (b) Adjustments for expenditure financed by receipts for 2001–02 in Table 15 of the pre-Budget report 2001 and the projections made in Table B20 of the pre-Budget report 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Changes to the projections for these items, between the pre-Budget report 2001 and the pre-Budget report 2000, are partly due to a re-estimation of the size of these items in light of new outturn information and partly due to revisions to their definitions mirroring changes to various public sector national accounts aggregates made in the 2001 UK National Accounts Blue Book published on 25 September 2001. The largest of these changes is described in the footnotes to table B13 of the pre-Budget report 2001.

Public Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of the nations and regions of the United Kingdom the amount of public money spent per capita in each of the last four years.

Andrew Smith: Information on identifiable public expenditure per head by country and region is given in Tables 8.2b to 8.6b, 8.10 and 8.12 of "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2001–02" (Cm 5101) published in April 2001.

EU Budget

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the EU budget is spent on (a) agriculture support, (b) the Social Fund and (c) the Regional Fund.

Ruth Kelly: The latest published outturn figures for total payments made from the General Budget of the European Communities relate to 2000. However, these do not include a breakdown of structural spending by instrument.
	In the financial year 2000 agricultural expenditure (EAGGF Guarantee section) amounted to 40.4 billion euro and constituted approximately 48.4 per cent. of total payments.
	In 2000 approximately 27.6 billion euro, or 33.1 per cent. of total payments, was spent on Category 2 (structural operations) which includes both the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

Insider Dealing

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to amend legislation in relation to the offence of insider dealing.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 introduced a new civil market abuse regime to complement existing insider dealing and other criminal legislation. The Government have no further plans to amend the legislation in this area, although some adjustment of the UK legislation may be necessary when and if the proposed European Market Abuse Directive is agreed.

Insider Dealing

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legislation relating to insider trading.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are committed to ensuring that UK financial markets are, and are seen to be, a safe and fair environment in which to trade. Insider dealing is a criminal offence under the Criminal Justice Act 1993. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, which came into force on 1 December last year, introduced a new civil market abuse regime to complement existing insider dealing and other criminal legislation. Under the new provisions, the FSA can impose financial penalties on, and publicly censure, those who abuse markets, including through misuse of information. The FSA can also now investigate and prosecute insider dealing offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1993.

Reputational Externalities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place his Department's internal guidance on the calculation of reputational externalities in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: As I said in my letter of 11 December 2001 to the hon. Member, whether and how reputational externalities need to be taken into account varies according to the specific circumstances of each case. Treasury officials have discussions with counterparts on a variety of evaluation issues, as appropriate.

Fuel Duty

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if it is his policy to use the level of fuel duty as an environmental policy tool;
	(2)  what his policy is towards the option of seeking a derogation under article 8.4 of the Mineral Oil Directive (92/81/EC) to allow a lower rate of duty to be applied to a given quantity of bio-transport fuel;
	(3)  what his policy is towards duty derogation under the Pilot Plant scheme to encourage the use of bio-fuels;
	(4)  if it is his policy to impose a fuel escalator if crude oil prices trade at a level sharply below that pertaining at the time of the 2000 and 2001 Budgets.

Paul Boateng: It is our policy to review all taxes annually as part of the Budget process. In making his judgment, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor considers all relevant economic, social and environmental factors.
	We have already announced that, under the Green Fuel Challenge, we will be seeking a derogation under Article 8(4) of the mineral oils structures directive to enable us to introduce a reduced rate of duty for biodiesel later this year; and, subject to European agreement, we will be providing a duty exemption for a pilot project involving biogas.

Tax Returns

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax returns the Inland Revenue (a) issued and (b) processed in tax years (i) 1972–73, (ii) 1980–81, (iii) 1990–91 and (iv) 2000–01.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue issued 9,469,404 ITSA returns in the year 2000–01 for the return years 1996–97 to 1999–2000.
	The Inland Revenue processed 9,354,047 ITSA returns in the year 2000–01 for the returns years 1996–97 to 1999–2000. The number processed will include returns received in the previous year but not processed by the year end.
	No details are held for the years 1972–73, 1980–81 or 1990–91.

Mortgage Administration Charges

Bob Laxton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce measures to prevent mortgage providers levying an administration charge every time a customer switches their building insurance to an alternative provider.

Ruth Kelly: Buildings insurance is essential. Without it, it may not be possible for a borrower to pay for repairs. This would affect the value of the property, and consequently the lender's investment. It is not unreasonable for the lender to check that the new policy has the equivalent provisions as the old one, and to make a small charge for this purpose.

Scottish Parliament

David Marshall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total costs of the (a) construction, (b) equipping and (c) finishing of the new building for the Scottish Parliament will be paid for by (i) the UK Government and (ii) the Scottish Executive.

Andrew Smith: The costs of the Scottish Parliament building are a devolved matter and are funded from within the Scottish Executive's budget.

Capital Appraisal

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 1003W, on capital appraisal, for what reason the Treasury considered that the project appraisal and capital approval system needed to be reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The rationale was set out in the answer referred to.

Advertising Campaigns

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the advertising campaigns commissioned by HM Treasury since May 1997, showing for each (a) its objectives, (b) its beginning and end dates, (c) the media used, (d) the criteria adopted to judge its effectiveness, (e) the extent to which effectiveness criteria were met, (f) any agency involvement and (g) its cost.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 11 January 2002
	With regards to advertising campaigns by HM Treasury, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley), on 2 April 2001, Official Report, columns 49–50W, and the reply given to the then hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. St. Aubyn) on 18 May 2000, Official Report, column 1256W by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary.

Child Tax Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Clarke) of 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 743W, how many families in each region are eligible for the children's tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: It is estimated that around five million families will benefit from the children's tax credit. The breakdown requested is as follows.
	
		Estimated number of families benefiting from the children's tax credit -- Thousand
		
			 Country/region of England Number of families 
		
		
			 North East 225 
			 North West 625 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 450 
			 East Midlands 400 
			 West Midlands 450 
			 East of England 450 
			 London 475 
			 South East 675 
			 South West 475 
			 Wales 250 
			 Scotland 400 
			 Northern Ireland 125 
			 United Kingdom 5,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The regions of England are Government Office regions.
	2. Based on projecting forward to 2001–02 Family Expenditure Survey data for 1995–96 to 1997–98.

Benefit Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those (a) dealt with by way of penalty and (b) prosecuted as a result of Inland Revenue investigation into working families tax credit and disabled persons tax credit fraud had previously been (i) dealt with by way of a penalty or caution and (ii) prosecuted as a result of benefit fraud.

Dawn Primarolo: Up until 31 December 2001, of those people dealt with by way of penalty following investigations into their working families or disabled person's tax credit applications, 34 already had a previous penalty or caution. Of the 28 prosecutions heard up to that date in relation to false applications for working families tax credit, 17 had other benefit offences heard concurrently. We do not have figures to show whether any of those people mentioned had any previous prosecutions for benefit fraud.

Contingent Liabilities

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list contingent liabilities accepted by the Government since 1 May 1997.

Andrew Smith: The Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund supplementary statements list, on an annual basis, reportable contingent and actual liabilities which have been taken on by Departments during the financial year and which are outstanding from previous years. They are also noted in departmental estimates and appropriation accounts.
	Contingent liabilities may be classified as 'reportable' under rules set out in chapter 26 of "Government Accounting". Under these rules, Departments are required to report contingent liabilities only when they are statutory or, in the case of non statutory liabilities are not incurred in the normal course of departmental business and they are over £100,000.
	Information on contingent liabilities is not collected in the way requested and could be done so only at disproportionate cost.

Financial Services Authority

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Financial Services Authority.

Ruth Kelly: The process by which the FSA is accountable for its performance, to Ministers, Parliament and the wider public, was set out in a letter from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to Sir Howard Davies, Chairman of FSA, in December 2001. A key element of the framework is that the FSA will report on its performance against its statutory objectives in its annual report, which the Treasury will submit to Parliament.
	A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House and was attached to a press notice, issued on 13 December 2001, which is accessible from the Treasury website.

Working Families Tax Credit

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of help with child care costs through the working families tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of families receiving the child care tax credit within working families tax credit (WFTC) are shown in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiries, copies of which are in the Library.
	It is not known how many families are eligible for the child care tax credit.

Working Families Tax Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of the working families tax credit was for each financial year to date; and what the projected cost is for (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04 and (d) 2004–05.

Dawn Primarolo: The figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are shown at Appendix 1 of the Inland Revenue annual report for the year ending 31 March 2001, a copy of which is in the Library. Projections to 2003–04 made at the time of the pre-Budget report of expenditure on the working families' and disabled person's tax credits are shown in Table B15 of the document.

Tax Units

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax units paying a marginal tax rate of 40 per cent. have children; and how many tax units have children.

Dawn Primarolo: It is estimated from household survey data that there are about 7.5 million families with dependent children (including those aged up to 18 and in full-time further education), and that about 1 million of these contain at least one adult who pays income tax at the higher rate.

Public Sector Current Balance

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cyclically adjusted public sector current balance in cash terms for (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04, (d) 2004–05 and (e) 2005–06.

Andrew Smith: Projections for the cyclically- adjusted current budget are published as a percentage of GDP. The latest projections are set out in table B2 on page 165 of the 2001 pre-Budget report.

Tax Receipts

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax receipts are anticipated from the clearing banks for the year 2001–02.

Ruth Kelly: Forecasts of tax receipts are not available in any more details than that published in Budget and pre-Budget reports.

Scottish Provident Institution

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 802W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (ref. 24558), on the Scottish Provident Institution, what action he has taken in respect of representations he has received about the Scottish Provident Institution and the performance of the FSA in dealing with matters raised by Scottish Provident Action for Membership.

Ruth Kelly: I understand that Scottish Provident Action for Membership has been in contact with the Financial Services Authority. This is primarily a matter for the company and relevant former policyholders.

Stability and Growth Pact

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the stability and growth pact on the conduct of the United Kingdom's fiscal policy.

Ruth Kelly: The Government's fiscal policy objectives and fiscal rules are set out in the 2001 pre-Budget report. The pre-Budget report contains projections of the public finances which show that the Government remain on track to meet both their fiscal rules over the cycle, including in the cautious case. The projections are consistent with a prudent interpretation of the stability and growth pact which takes into account the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment (as specified in Article 104 of the EU treaty).

Public Works Loan Board

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made in the last three years to the quotas for lending to local authorities by the Public Works Loan Board.

Ruth Kelly: The total quota entitlements for lending to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales were £4.962 billion in 1998–99, £4.361 billion in 1999–2000 and £5.256 billion in 2000–01. The rules governing the quota entitlement set by the Public Works Loan Board remained unchanged in each of the three years.

Financial Services

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross domestic product of (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each region was accounted for by financial services in each of the last four years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 17 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounted for by financial services for the United Kingdom and for the regions and countries. I am replying in his absence. (27442)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices (previously referred to as GDP) with an industrial breakdown for the 12 regions and countries of the United Kingdom. GVA at basic prices differs from GDP only in that it does not account for taxes or subsidies on products. For estimating proportions GVA and GDP can be treated synonymously.
	These data were published as an ONS News Release on 27 February 2001 and in the March 2001 edition of Economic Trends, consistent with the United Kingdom National Accounts "The Blue Book" 2000. These publications are available in the House of Commons Library and on the web at http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/regionalaccounts.

Mr. Gus O'Donnell

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the presentation and slides produced by Mr. Gus O'Donnell for a seminar with economics undergraduates and students on 30 November 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The slides have been placed in the House of Commons Library. They were available on the university of Nottingham website following a similar talk given by Mr. O'Donnell at that university on 3 December.

European Central Bank

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proposals he has made to reform the European central bank in order to (a) improve policy-making transparency and (b) improve the definition of the inflation target; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to secure increased transparency and accountability in the decision-making process of the European central bank;

Ruth Kelly: As the Chancellor said to the House of Lords Select Committee in January 1999,
	"the issues of transparency in decision making, which we dealt with in our reform of the Bank of England and the symmetry of the inflation target, which have proved to be central to the success of the United Kingdom's new monetary framework, will also be issues for future debate in Europe".

Charities (Scotland)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to respond to recommendation 9 of the McFadden report on a regulatory regime for charities in Scotland.

Ruth Kelly: We are currently examining issues relating to the partnership in service delivery between the voluntary and public sectors, and how barriers to this partnership might be overcome.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff at the Bank of England are involved in working on the preliminary technical work for joining the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury is in regular contact with the Bank of England on a whole range of issues, including aspects of the preliminary and technical work. But it is clear that the assessment will be a Government assessment, and the work will be undertaken by the Treasury.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there will be a political judgment involved in the decision as to whether or not Britain should join the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: As the Chancellor stated in October 1997, the determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's decision to join the euro will be affected by (a) the level of the pound against the euro and (b) the degree of progress on harmonisation in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clean and unambiguous. The five economic tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case can be made.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reforms to the (a) fiscal policy rules and (b) operational arrangements for monetary policy, in relation to members of the Single European Currency, are being sought by the Government before Britain will join the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to seek a devaluation of the pound sterling against the euro before Britain joins the single European currency; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary, on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 125W.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what budget allocation has been made by his Department for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 for carrying out the preliminary technical work for evaluating the five economic tests for membership of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: No separate budget allocation has been made for this work for either year. The resources needed will be found from the budgets of the several Treasury management units which will contribute to the preliminary and technical work.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) officials, (b) special advisers and (c) Ministers of his Department who are involved in the preliminary technical work for joining the euro; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many officials of HM Treasury were involved in the preliminary technical preparations for joining the euro at (a) 1 January 2001, (b) 1 June 2001, (c) 1 December 2001 and (d) the latest date for which data are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 373W.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is (a) his estimate of the date on which the Treasury will complete its evaluation of whether the five economic tests for joining the euro have been met and (b) the latest date by which their evaluation is due to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 67W.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the five economic tests for membership of the euro will have to be met clearly and unambiguously if Britain is to join the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous. The five economic tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case can be made.

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury will commence consultation on the proposed changes to the landfill tax credit scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will shortly be issuing a consultation document on the shape of any replacement scheme and how any transition arrangements could be managed to ensure that worthwhile projects continue to receive funding.

Euro Preparations Committee

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who are the members of the cross-party HM Treasury Euro-Preparations Committee; how many times the Committee has met in the last four years; on which dates meetings are scheduled during 2002; and if he will make a statement.

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of the meetings of the cross-party Euro-Preparations Committee;
	(2)  if he will list those members of the House who serve on the Euro Preparations Committee.

Ruth Kelly: All parliamentary parties are invited to send representatives to attend the Cross Party Group on Euro Preparations. The group was reconvened after the last general election, and has met twice since then, the last occasion being 5 December 2001. The Committee plans to meet regularly throughout 2002. Minutes of the meetings are available to those that attend the group.

Eurozone

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts have been produced by his Department of eurozone short-term interest rates over the period 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury does not publish any interest rate forecasts. Further detail on Treasury economic forecasts can be found in the pre-Budget and Budget reports.

Eurozone

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of (a) fiscal policy co-ordination in the eurozone and (b) monetary/fiscal policy co-ordination in the eurozone; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor's June 2001 Mansion House speech set out the Government's thinking on how economic policies aimed at achieving stability and economic reform can create a more competitive and prosperous Europe.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to extend to (a) charities and (b) voluntary organisations, the provisions of section 33 of the VAT Act 1994 on the recovery of import tax.

Paul Boateng: The Government have no plans to extend the section 33 refund scheme in this way.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total annual amount of irrecoverable VAT paid by charities.

Paul Boateng: No estimate has been made.

Tax Exemptions

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer in each of the last four years of granting tax exemptions to the income, profits and gains of Government, foreign states and integral bodies of foreign Governments arising in the United Kingdom.

Dawn Primarolo: The table details the approximate amounts refunded during the last four years to states or organisations granted sovereign immunity from taxation. Precise details are not held of other income (such as interest) which is relieved from tax at source, or of capital gains. Some of these items would in any case be exempted and payable without deduction of tax under the terms of a double taxation convention, or the UK tax legislation, as those apply to any non resident.
	
		£ million 
		
			 Tax year Total payments 
		
		
			 1997–98 121 
			 1998–99 63 
			 1999–2000 16 
			 2000–01 8 
			 2001–02(27) 2 
		
	
	(27) To 31 December 2001
	Notes:
	1. The amounts shown include payments of tax credits attaching to dividends payable on shares in UK companies, and tax deducted from interest.
	2. The legislation enabling payment of dividend tax credits to exempt bodies was repealed with effect from 6 April 1999. The amounts shown as refunded in subsequent years comprise tax credits attributable to periods prior to 6 April 1999, and tax deducted from interest.

Tax Exemptions

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the gain to the Exchequer in each of the last four years of the exemptions granted by overseas Governments to the income, profits and gains of the United Kingdom Government and United Kingdom Government bodies arising within the jurisdiction of those overseas Governments.

Dawn Primarolo: The average gain to the UK Exchequer from exemptions granted by overseas Governments to income arising on the UK reserves invested abroad, is estimated as approximately £250 million for each of the last four years.

Tax Refunds

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was refunded to states or organisations granted sovereign immunity in each year since 1990.

Dawn Primarolo: The table details the approximate amounts refunded to states or organisations granted sovereign immunity from taxation.
	
		£ million 
		
			 Tax year Total paid 
		
		
			 1990–91 138 
			 1991–92 164 
			 1992–93 116 
			 1993–94 117 
			 1994–95 99 
			 1995–96 120 
			 1996–97 89 
			 1997–98 121 
			 1998–99 63 
			 1999–2000 16 
			 2000–01 8 
			 2001–02(28) 2 
		
	
	(28) To 31 December 2001
	Notes:
	1. The amounts shown include payments of tax credits attaching to dividends payable on shares in UK companies, and tax deducted from interest.
	2. The figures for years to 1993–94 inclusive are inflated by some refunds (to international organisations) that did not depend upon sovereign immunity. This element has been removed from the amounts shown for 1994–95 onwards.
	3. The legislation enabling payment of dividend tax credit to exempt bodies was repealed with effect from 6 April 1999. The amounts shown as refunded in subsequent years comprise tax credits attributable to periods prior to 6 April 1999 and tax deducted from interest.

Incomes

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the total unearned and (b) the total earned income of the top (i) one per cent., (ii) five per cent., (iii) 10 per cent., (iv) 20 per cent., (v) 25 per cent., (vi) 50 per cent., (vii) 70 per cent. and (viii) all taxpayers in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The total amount of earned and investment income for the groups of taxpayers requested are in the table.
	
		£ million 
		
			 Group of taxpayers by range of total income Earned income Investment income Total income 
		
		
			 1997–98
			 Top 1 per cent. 38 10 47 
			 Top 5 per cent. 87 15 102 
			 Top 10 per cent. 127 19 146 
			 Top 20 per cent. 191 22 213 
			 Top 25 per cent. 218 23 240 
			 Top 50 per cent. 320 27 347 
			 Top 70 per cent. 376 30 405 
			 All taxpayers 425 35 461 
			 
			 1998–99
			 Top 1 per cent. 44 10 54 
			 Top 5 per cent. 99 16 115 
			 Top 10 per cent. 143 19 162 
			 Top 20 per cent. 211 24 234 
			 Top 25 per cent. 239 25 264 
			 Top 50 per cent. 346 33 378 
			 Top 70 per cent. 405 36 441 
			 All taxpayers 458 40 498 
			 
			 1999–2000
			 Top 1 per cent. 47 10 58 
			 Top 5 per cent. 107 16 123 
			 Top 10 per cent. 154 20 174 
			 Top 20 per cent. 226 24 250 
			 Top 25 per cent. 256 26 282 
			 Top 50 per cent. 370 32 402 
			 Top 70 per cent. 431 36 467 
			 All taxpayers 487 40 527 
			 
			 2000–01
			 Top 1 per cent. 54 10 64 
			 Top 5 per cent. 117 15 133 
			 Top 10 per cent. 167 19 186 
			 Top 20 per cent. 242 24 266 
			 Top 25 per cent. 274 25 299 
			 Top 50 per cent. 392 32 424 
			 Top 70 per cent. 456 36 492 
			 All taxpayers 513 40 553 
			 
			 2001–02
			 Top 1 per cent. 56 10 66 
			 Top 5 per cent. 121 16 137 
			 Top 10 per cent. 173 19 192 
			 Top 20 per cent. 251 24 275 
			 Top 25 per cent. 284 25 309 
			 Top 50 per cent. 407 32 439 
			 Top 70 per cent. 474 36 510 
			 All taxpayers 534 39 574

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which accountancy firms have provided paid services to (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible in each of the last four years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Duty Free Goods

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the yield to the Exchequer in the next three years resulting from the system of duty free goods.

Paul Boateng: No revenue is received from the sale of duty free goods.

VAT (Church Repairs)

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has made to the European Commission on the issue of reducing VAT on repairs to historic churches; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The European Commission has indicated that it will consider a reduced rate of VAT for listed places of worship in their general review of the reduced rates in 2003.
	The Chancellor announced in Budget 2001 the introduction of a UK-wide grant scheme to help congregations with the VAT cost of the repair and maintenance of listed buildings that are used as places of worship. The effect of the grant is to reduce the VAT cost on eligible repairs from 17.5 to 5 per cent.
	This grant scheme, known as the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, was launched on 4 December.

Registrar's Department

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role of the Registrar's Department and on progress in reviewing options for its future.

Ruth Kelly: It is not clear to which Registrar's Department the hon. Gentleman's question relates. If he would clarify the point, I will endeavour to provide him with the information he seeks.

Standing Committee

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions the Standing Committee set up by the Memorandum of Understanding between the Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority has met; and if he will publish the minutes of the meetings.

Ruth Kelly: The committee meets roughly monthly. Much of its work is confidential, and discussions are often subject to statutory protections of information under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Inland Revenue Services (Rural Areas)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the future provision of Inland Revenue services in rural areas.

Dawn Primarolo: I am aware of no such recent representations relating to the provision of services in rural areas.

Hypothecation

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the merits and demerits of hypothecation.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 6 December 2001, Official Report, column 526W.

Customs and Excise Forecasts

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons underlying the growth in the level of manual adjustments made by HM Customs and Excise to their modelled forecasts for receipts over the years from 1995–96 to the present.

Paul Boateng: Officials in HM Customs and Excise make manual adjustments to forecasts produced by economic models in consultation with officials from HM Treasury. The purpose of these adjustments is to provide more accurate forecasts of revenue receipts. This is conventional practice and such adjustments are made so as to capture events or trends that are not explicitly modelled, eg one-off events, such as the millennium celebrations; changes to the scope of the tax; changing tastes or new products.
	The models for alcohol and petrol and diesel were re-estimated by Professor Marcus Chambers in 1999 (published as Government Economic Service Working Paper, Number 138). For most items the manual adjustments have been considerably reduced as a result.

Rail Infrastructure Company

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in the proposed structure of the successor company to Railtrack.

Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials have been kept informed of DTLR's work on this subject.

Departmental Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in his Department.

Ruth Kelly: The Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism. The report for the year 2000 will be published shortly.

Pension Tax Codes

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the Inland Revenue indexed the amount of state pension included in pension tax codes between 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The Inland Revenue does not routinely index the amount of state pension when it issues tax codes to pensioners before the start of the tax year. It bases the tax code on information provided to it by the Department for Work and Pensions (the Department of Social Security before June 2001) for individuals receiving the state pension, which takes into account the increase in the state pension that comes into effect in the new tax year. If for any reason the information is not provided by DWP, the estimated amount of state pension already included in the tax code is increased by reference to the appropriate percentage increase in state pensions as announced in the pre-Budget report.

Capital Gains Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 32W, on Capital Gains Tax, what estimates for the Capital Gains Tax yield in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 are used to derive the estimates for tax revenues contained in the pre-Budget report of November 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The available estimates of Capital Gains Tax receipts in years to 2002–03 are given in Table B11 of the November 2001 pre-Budget report and receipts mostly relate to accruals of the previous tax year. Estimates for later years are highly dependent on assumed growth in asset values.

Rural Support Scheme

Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his projection is for the funding required to match the modulated funds in the rural support scheme.

Andrew Smith: Expenditure on rural support match funding in Scotland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive within their devolved budget.

Economic Stability Document

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 197W, on the Economic Stability Document, how many copies of the volume "Reforming Britain's Economic and Financial Policy" (a) have been printed and (b) are planned to be printed over the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: "Reforming Britain's Economic and Financial Policy" has been published commercially by Palgrave, the academic publishing division of Macmillan. The number of copies printed is a commercial decision for the publisher.

Climate Change Levy

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt nuclear energy from the climate change levy.

Andrew Smith: The climate change levy is designed to encourage energy efficiency across the business and public sectors and to increase the use of sustainable forms of energy. The Government have no plans to exempt the nuclear power industry from the levy.

NHS Charges

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue is generated from charges in the national health service.

Dawn Primarolo: Prescription and other national health service patient charges are outside the scope of VAT. NHS charges are not directly chargeable to income or corporation tax but NHS practitioners will be taxable on their income and profits in the normal way. It is not possible to separate tax revenue on NHS charges from tax revenue on other income.

Charitable Donations

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are making charitable donations; what the total amount given to charity is; and what the cost is to the Exchequer of tax relief thereon.

Ruth Kelly: Information on the full extent of charitable giving is not available from administrative sources. A study by the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) estimated that about 30 million adults in Great Britain gave to charities in the year 2000. A survey by NCVO/NOP suggested that this was worth nearly £6 billion excluding legacies. There are also significant amounts of giving by companies. The cost to the Exchequer of donations under Deeds of Covenant, Gift Aid and Payroll Giving is estimated at £525 million for 2000–01.

Tax Returns

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum (a) levied and (b) paid in fines for late submission of tax returns in each of the last four years.

Dawn Primarolo: The table shows the amounts for penalties raised by the Inland Revenue from late filing penalties on tax returns over the last four years and the total of fines paid, in each of those years. The Inland Revenue accounts for its receipts in accounts years running from November to October.
	
		Inland Revenue -- £
		
			 Accounts year Penalties raised Penalties paid 
		
		
			 1997 0 0 
			 1998 113,200,000 18,085,069 
			 1999 112,200,000 29,360,479 
			 2000 118,400,000 32,960,556 
			  
			 Total 343,800,000 80,406,104

Tax Returns

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been issued with personal tax returns by the Inland Revenue in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of personal ITSA returns issued by the Inland Revenue in the last four years is as follows:
	
		
			 Return years Issued to Number 
		
		
			 1996–97 31 March 1998 7,686,551 
			 1996–97 and 1997–98 31 March 1999 8,399,694 
			 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 31 March 2000 8,567,728 
			 1996–976, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 31 March 2001 8,560,419 
		
	
	Figures for the current return years 2000–01 are not yet available.

Tax Returns

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were fined for late submission of their tax returns in each of the last four years; and what was the total of fines paid, including interest, in each of those years.

Dawn Primarolo: The table show the number of penalties raised by the Inland Revenue from late filing penalties on tax returns over the last four years and the total of penalties paid, in each of those years. There is no information available about the number of people fined. Interest on penalties cannot be distinguished separately so has not been included.
	
		The Inland Revenue accounts for its receipts in accounts years running from November to October -- £
		
			 Accounts year Penalties raised  Penalties paid  
		
		
			 1997 0 0 
			 1998 1,132,000 18,085,069 
			 1999 1,122,000 29,360,479 
			 2000 1,184,000 32,960,556 
			  
			 Total 3,438,000 80,406,104

Private Medical Insurance Tax Relief

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of private medical insurance tax relief if (a) one million, (b) two million, (c) three million, (d) four million, (e) five million and (f) 10 million qualify for tax relief.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost of any income tax relief for private medical insurance would depend on a number of factors including the type of relief given, the exact requirements for qualification for the relief, as well as the numbers of individuals or policies qualifying. Consequently it is not possible to provide the estimates requested.

Redundancy Payments

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax reliefs available on redundancy payments.

Dawn Primarolo: Payments made to compensate an individual for being made redundant are exempt from income tax up to a limit of £30,000 and taxable beyond that.

Advance Corporation Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total advance corporation tax repayments made by the Inland Revenue were in the last financial year.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 790W.

Hypothecation

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce (a) full and (b) partial hypothecation of taxes.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 6 December 2001, Official Report, column 526W.

Taxpayers (Traceability)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers there were for whom the ground for non-payment of tax in each of the last four years was that they were untraceable.

Dawn Primarolo: The tables show, for the years 1997 to 2000, the latest year available, the number of cases and amounts involved where tax was classed as irrecoverable because the taxpayer has become untraceable or has moved abroad.
	
		Table 1: Untraceable
		
			   Income Tax  Capital Gains Tax  
			 Year £ Cases £ Cases 
		
		
			 1997 39,110,709.17 39,906 1,459,842.88 194 
			 1998 29,846,737.49 23,265 1,472,515.64 144 
			 1999 23,557,517.41 16,364 1,695,508.31 99 
			 2000 16,199,976.11 12,365 612,182.11 61 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Moved abroad
		
			   Income Tax  Capital Gains Tax  
			 Year £ Cases £ Cases 
		
		
			 1997 7,663,933.70 4,844 580,057.07 111 
			 1998 7,398.148.66 4,238 1,690,326.69 74 
			 1999 6,012,605.04 2,572 351,713.29 47 
			 2000 7,269,203.50 5,558 1,103.379.09 106

Tax Write-offs

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was remitted or written off as irrecoverable in each of the last four years; and what was the number of taxpayers for whom the ground for non-payment was that they (a) had gone abroad or were untraceable, (b) were insolvent and (c) were suffering hardship.

Dawn Primarolo: The tables show, for the years 1997 to 2000, the latest year available, the number of cases and amounts involved where tax was classed as irrecoverable or was written off because the taxpayer was (a) untraceable or had moved abroad, (b) was insolvent, (c) was suffering hardship.
	
		Table a: Taxpayer untraceable or moved abroad
		
			   Income Tax  Capital Gains Tax  
			 Year £ Cases £ Cases 
		
		
			 1997 46,774,642.87 44,750 2,039,899.95 305 
			 1998 37,244,886.15 27,503 3,162,842.33 218 
			 1999 29,570,122.45 18,936 2,047,221.60 146 
			 2000 23,469,179.61 17,923 1,715,561.20 167 
		
	
	
		Table b: Taxpayer insolvent
		
			   Income Tax  Capital Gains Tax  
			 Year £ Cases £ Cases 
		
		
			 1997 306,630,972.66 99,813 10,352,690.11 1,030 
			 1998 402,816,473.26 90,610 17,393,163.47 900 
			 1999 358,843,664.48 82,327 10,764,638.35 683 
			 2000 266,949,276.47 80,020 2,449,982.29 349 
		
	
	
		Table c: Taxpayer suffering hardship
		
			   Income Tax  Capital Gains Tax  
			 Year £ Cases £ Cases 
		
		
			 1997 2,084,183.53 3,660 0.00 0 
			 1998 2,327,543.69 6,333 71,494.40 12 
			 1999 2,190,979.15 3,404 2,492.40 1 
			 2000 2,927,225.17 3,172 4,930.00 1

Corporation Tax

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the results were in terms of additional tax, duty, interest and penalties achieved in each of the last three years to 31 March 2001 (a) by Inland Revenue large business offices (corporation tax) as a whole expressed in terms of recoveries from individual taxpayers banded (i) £0 to £1 million, (ii) £1 million to £10 million, (iii) £10 million to £50 million, (iv) £50 million to £100 million, and (v) £100 million and above, and (b) by each of the geographic offices of the large business office (corporation tax) expressed as a total for that geographic office.

Dawn Primarolo: Inland Revenue Large Business Office (corporation tax) records the adjustments made to corporation tax profits as a result of its work and the estimated tax effect of each adjustment. The tables give the requested analyses of tax effect of adjustments for 1999–2000 and 2000–01. Detailed analyses for 1998–99, and analyses of related interest charges or penalties, are not available. The geographic analysis allocates yield to the office currently dealing with the relevant case: because of transfers of cases between offices that may reflect work done in a different large business office location.
	
		Table (a)
		
			  Number of adjustments Total yield (£ million) 
		
		
			 1999–2000   
			 £0 to £1 million 4,483 503 
			 £1 million to £10 million 304 784 
			 £10 million to £50 million 26 527 
			 £50 million to £100 million 1 59 
			 £100 million+ 0 0 
			
			 2000–01   
			 £0 to £1 million 4,038 518 
			 £1 million to £10 million 318 861 
			 £10 million to £50 million 13 262 
			 £50 million to £100 million 1 100 
			 £100 million+ 2 398 
		
	
	
		Table (b) -- £ million
		
			 Office 1999–2000 yield 2000–01 yield 
		
		
			 Bristol 85 163 
			 City A 146 160 
			 City B 52 58 
			 City C 46 60 
			 City D 288 174 
			 City E 104 352 
			 City F 5 8 
			 Edinburgh 232 126 
			 Glasgow 72 79 
			 Leeds 70 96 
			 Liverpool 57 77 
			 Manchester 195 168 
			 Nottingham 115 179 
			 Peterborough 97 56 
			 West Midlands 291 368 
			 Cases no longer in the large business office 17 15

Public Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of public expenditure per head of population in each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom in each of the last four years.

Andrew Smith: Information on identifiable total managed public expenditure per head by country is given in Tables 8.2b to 8.6b of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2001–02 (Cm 5101) published in April 2001.

Public Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the expenditure of local authority capital receipts in each of the last four years has counted as public expenditure; and what is the total amount of such expenditure.

Andrew Smith: All capital expenditure, net of all sales of capital assets, by local authorities counts as public expenditure as measured by Total Managed Expenditure (TME).
	Gross capital expenditure (before netting off sale receipts) by local authorities is shown in table 6.8 of "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2001–02, Cm5101". Receipts from the sale of capital assets are shown in table. 6.9.
	Further information on capital receipts in England was published in tables 6.5 and 6.7 of "Local Government Financial Statistics 2001."

Value for Money

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission independent research into the progress of Departments in securing value for money.

Andrew Smith: The National Audit Office produce regular independent reports on value for money issues across Government.

Fraud

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1 May 1997 of fraud; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The cost to the Department's budget of fraud (excluding thefts) since 1 May 1997 is estimated at £18,030. Steps have been taken to learn lessons and to minimise the risk of reoccurrence.

Education Maintenance Awards

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning funding for education maintenance awards as part of the comprehensive spending review.

Dawn Primarolo: To date, the Chancellor has received no such representations.

Financial Services Regulation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are engaged in financial services regulation.

Ruth Kelly: 2,765 staff are engaged in the regulation of financial services in the UK, according to the FSA annual report 2000–01. This excludes support staff. This is an increase from 2,548 staff in 1999–2000.

Financial Services Authority

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are directly employed as regulators by the FSA.

Ruth Kelly: At 31 March 2001, the FSA had 2,119 employees, an increase from 1,961 on 31 March 2000. The average number over the year employed as regulators by the FSA was 2,041. These figures are quoted in the FSA annual report 2000–01.
	The annual report gives a breakdown of the average FSA employment over 2001:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Supervision and Policy 1,085 
			 Enforcement and Consumer Relations 463 
			 Central Departments 160 
			 Operations and Support 273 
			 UKLA 60 
			  
			 Total 2,041

Pilot Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what pilot projects have been undertaken in his Department since May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Pilot projects are undertaken in the Treasury when appropriate. A central record is not kept and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Bank Notes

Pilot Projects

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has on the effects of the rise in part-time employment on the level of demand for bank notes.

Ruth Kelly: There could be some effect on the demand for money from labour market developments, such as the rise in part-time employment, although the levels of economic activity and prices, nominal interest rates and the inflation rate are usually viewed as more important. Contributory factors to the growth in part-time employment are assessed in Box B1, Annex B of the Financial Stateral and Budget Reportof FSBR 2001. Correspondence

Pilot Projects

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 4 December 2001 with regard to Patricia Andrews.

Andrew Smith: I have done so.

Population Statistics (Kirklees)

Ann Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the numbers of residents 
	(1)  in each parliamentary constituency wholly or partly within Kirklees metropolitan council area in each year since 1991 indicating the percentages in the age ranges (a) 0 to 4, (b) 5 to 14, (c) 15 to 18, (d) 19 to 25, (e) 26 to 59 and (f) over 60 years;
	(2)  if he will estimate the numbers of residents in Kirklees metropolitan council area in each year since 1991, indicating the percentage in the age ranges (a) 0 to 4, (b) 5 to 14, (c) 15 to 18, (d) 19 to 25, (e) 26 to 59 and (f) over 60 years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Ann Taylor, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions concerning the number of residents in Kirklees and its parliamentary constituencies. I am replying in his absence. (26243, 26242)
	The attached table gives population estimates for Kirklees Metropolitan council area, together with the percentage age distribution of the population.
	ONS does not produce population estimates on parliamentary constituency boundaries. The smallest area level for which we produce population estimates is for local authorities.
	
		The population estimate for Kirklees from mid-1991 to mid-2000 including a percentage age distribution
		
			 Mid-year Estimated number of residents (thousand) Percentage in each age range 0 to 45 to 1415 to 1819 to 2526 to 5960 and over 
		
		
			 1991 381.5 7.1 13.1 5.3 11.1 43.8 19.6 
			 1992 383.2 7.1 13.2 5.0 11.0 44.2 19.5 
			 1993 385.8 7.0 13.4 4.8 10.7 44.7 19.4 
			 1994 386.9 7.0 13.4 4.8 10.4 45.1 19.3 
			 1995 387.7 6.9 13.4 4.9 10.0 45.4 19.3 
			 1996 388.8 6.8 13.5 5.1 9.7 45.7 19.2 
			 1997 389.5 6.7 13.6 5.2 9.4 45.9 19.2 
			 1998 390.9 6.7 13.6 5.1 9.3 46.1 19.3 
			 1999 392.3 6.6 13.6 5.0 9.3 46.1 19.3 
			 2000 395.1 6.6 13.5 5.0 9.5 46.1 19.2

Cost of Living Index

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an index for the cost of living for consumers based on the retail prices index but excluding indirect taxes for each of the last 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking if he will give an index for the cost of living for consumers based on the Retail Prices Index but excluding indirect taxes for each of the last ten years. I am replying in his absence. (26251)
	I am unable to provide an index exactly answering these requirements due to the disproportionate cost involved. However, the ONS does publish a version of the Retail Prices Index, namely RPIY, that excludes both mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes. The annual average of RPIY for the years 1990 to 2000 is presented below together with the annual average of the 12-month percentage change. The annual average figure for 2001 will be available on Tuesday 15 January 2002 when the Retail Prices Index for December is published.
	
		RPIY (all items RPI excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes)(29): Annual averages 1999–2000
		
			 Calendar year Index January 1987 = 100 Change over 12 months (percentage) 
		
		
			 1990 121.4 7.3 
			 1991 129.5 6.7 
			 1992 135.1 4.3 
			 1993 139.0 2.9 
			 1994 141.3 1.7 
			 1995 144.5 2.3 
			 1996 148.2 2.6 
			 1997 151.5 2.2 
			 1998 154.5 2.0 
			 1999 157.1 1.7 
			 2000 159.9 1.8 
		
	
	(29) The taxes excluded are council tax, VAT, duties, vehicle excise duty, insurance tax and airport tax.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	These data, together with the indices for each individual month, are available on the ONS website www.statistics.gov.uk/rpi.

VAT-Exempt Goods and Services

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate total expenditure in the latest year for which figures are available on (a) food, (b) fuel, (c) children's clothes and shoes, (d) books, newspapers and periodicals and (e) bus, tube and train fares.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning household expenditure for the latest year for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (26615)
	Expenditure by households is published quarterly as part of the National Accounts in 'Consumer Trends', available on the ONS website at www.statistics.gov.uk/products/p242.asp. The year 2000 is the latest complete calendar year for which figures are available. The information on children's clothing and footwear is not separately available. An approximate allocation between adults' and children's goods may be made using more detailed information on average weekly expenditure published in "Family Spending 1999–2000", Table 7.1.

Company Investment

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total level of fixed investment was in each of the last five years by industrial and commercial companies in plant and machinery, dwellings, company cars, other vehicles, other new buildings and works purchase less sales of land and existing buildings and all fixed assets.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question about the total level of fixed investment in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence. (26261)
	Fixed capital formation for the private sector, public non-financial corporations and general government can be found in the "United Kingdom National Accounts: Blue Book", which was last published by ONS in 2001 [ISSN 0267–8691], under tables 9.2 and 9.4 (pages 261 and 262). These tables contain most of the asset information as requested in the question. Separate estimates for company cars are not available. These are included in the transport equipment figures.
	Further fixed capital formation data can be found in our business investment quarterly first release at the following website address:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/binv1201.pdf
	Copies of the United Kingdom National Accounts: Blue Book is available in the House of Commons Library.

Dependent Children

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average income of women of working age with (a) no dependent children, (b) at least one dependent child under five years and (c) children aged five to 16 years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 January 2002
	The national Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the average income of working-age women. I am replying in his absence. (26257)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of the gross hourly earnings of female employees of working age (ie. those aged 16–59 years) by age of youngest dependent child. The latest available estimates are for summer (June to August) 2001. These are given in the table overleaf.
	
		Average gross hourly earnings of female employees of working age(30) by age of youngest dependent child(31); United Kingdom; summer (June to August) 2001; not seasonally adjusted -- £
		
			  Average gross hourly earnings 
		
		
			 All female employees aged 16–59 8.0 
			   
			 With youngest dependent child aged:  
			 Under 5 years 9.0 
			 5–16 years 7.7 
			 17–18 years 8.8 
			   
			 With no dependent children 7.9 
		
	
	(30) Women aged 16–59 years
	(31) Children under 16 years of age, or those aged 16–18 years who are never married and in full-time education
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Personal Sector Deficit

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the financial deficit of the personal sector was in each year since 1997 in (a) constant and (b) cash terms, (i) in total and (ii) per household.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question about what the financial deficit of the personal sector was in each year since 1997 in (a) constant and (b) cash terms, (i) in total and (ii) per household. I am replying in his absence. (26284)
	The net lending/borrowing of the combined households and non-profit institutions serving households is available on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk. The time series NSSZ is also available within table A41 of the release "United Kingdom Economic Accounts".
	Information on the number of households in Great Britain is also available within the publication "Housing Statistics 2001" and is found in table 4.14. Data for the United Kingdom is not available.
	Data for net lending/borrowing at constant prices are not available.

Suicide Rates

Liam Fox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the death rate per 100,000 due to suicide and undetermined injury was in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Dr. Liam Fox, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning the death rate per 100,000 due to suicide and undetermined injury in each of the last five years for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (27402)
	The figures requested are given in the table below:
	
		
			 Calendar year Death rate per 100,000 persons 
		
		
			 1996 9.4 
			 1997 9.5 
			 1998 9.8 
			 1999 9.8 
			 2000 9.3 
		
	
	Note:
	Suicide and undetermined injury is defined by ONS using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision: E950-E959, E980-£989, excluding E988.8.
	Source:
	ONS

Cancer Deaths

Liam Fox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the death rate per 100,000 among people under 65 due to cancer was in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what the death rates were in the age groups (a) 45–55 and (b) 55–65.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Dr. Liam Fox, dated 15 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning the death rate per 100,000 amongst people aged under 65 due to cancer in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what were the death rates in the age groups (a) 45–54 and (b) 55–64. I am replying in his absence. (27401)
	The answer is given in the table below:
	
		Death rate per 100,000 persons 
		
			 Calendar year All ages under 65  Ages 45–5455–64 
		
		
			 1996 77.3 137.6 394.1 
			 1997 74.8 134.0 378.9 
			 1998 75.3 134.2 380.4 
			 1999 73.9 130.8 369.5 
			 2000 73.1 128.7 359.6 
		
	
	Note:
	Cancer is defined by ONS using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision: 140–208.
	Source:
	ONS

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what mechanism recipients of the proposed child tax credit and working credit will be able to recover underpayments of tax credit which arise through an over-estimate by the claimant of his income in the current year.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 January 2002
	If an underpayment of tax credit should arise because of a difference between estimated and actual income for a tax year, it would be identified as part of the end of year process of finalising claims and paid out by the Inland Revenue.

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in cases where assessment for tax credit purposes is based only on that part of the increase in current year income which exceeds a threshold, whether subsequent assessments will take account of that part of increased income below the threshold.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 January 2002
	Decisions on what regulations to propose under the provisions of Clause 7(3) of the Tax Credits Bill have not yet been taken. But if it were the case that part of a rise in income in the current tax year, by comparison with the previous year, were to be left out of account in assessing tax credits for the current year, the full amount of the income would be relevant in deciding tax credit entitlement in the following tax year.

Tax Credits Bill

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the definition of a couple for purposes of the Tax Credits Bill is different from that used in the State Pension Credit Bill.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The definition of couple used in the Tax Credits Bill follows that used in the Taxes Acts, including for the existing children's tax credit.

Tax Credits Bill

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish draft versions of the regulations referred to in the Tax Credits Bill in advance of the scrutiny of that Bill in Committee.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 January 2002
	Draft regulations under the powers provided in the Tax Credits Bill will be made available as soon as possible.

Union Fees

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the trade unions which have tax relief for their members' membership fees.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 January 2002
	Details of organisations, including trade unions, for which tax relief can be claimed on fees paid to them can be found in the Inland Revenue booklet List 3, copies of which can be found on the Inland Revenue website.

Pensioner Taxation

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the number of pensioner couples whose tax allowances have been reduced by the abolition of married couples allowance resulting from them attaining the age of 60 or 65 years after 5 April 2000;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the number of pensioner couples in north-west Leicestershire whose tax allowances have been reduced by the abolition of married couples allowance resulting from them attaining the age of 60 or 65 years after 5 April 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 January 2002
	No taxpayer will have their tax allowances reduced as a result of reaching 60 or 65 after 5 April 2000. Most pensioner taxpayers will qualify for an increased personal allowance after reaching the age of 65.

Drug Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of drug smuggling from Jamaica to the United Kingdom in the last five years.

Paul Boateng: Customs seized 11 tonnes of cocaine destined for the UK during the financial year 2000–01 of which about 750 kilos arrived from Jamaica.

Comprehensive Spending Review

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what form the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: It is anticipated that the conclusions of the 2002 Spending Review will be published in a Command Paper and accompanied by a statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as with those of the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, and the 2000 Spending Review.

VAT

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to synchronise the VAT rates between local education authorities and further education colleges in respect of further and sixth form education.

Paul Boateng: VAT is not charged on education taught in LEA schools or in further education colleges.

VAT

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was paid per average household on all goods and services, at current prices, in each of the last four years.

Paul Boateng: Information on VAT receipts as a percentage of household expenditure for the years 1991–92 to 2000–01 is contained within the Value Added Tax Factsheet September 2001 produced by Customs and Excise, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

VAT (Digitised Products)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason VAT is applied to digitised books.

Paul Boateng: Digitised books do not fall within the ordinary meaning of books and cannot be zero-rated for VAT.

VAT (Digitised Products)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis he has made of the risk to future revenue from VAT as a result of the growth of trade in digitised products.

Paul Boateng: Customs and Excise have for several years have been working alongside business and the UK's partners in the EU and OECD to ensure that the tax system adapts to increased trade in digitised products, and to minimise any risks to the revenue. Customs' current assessment is that the potential risk is very small.

VAT (Audiology Treatment)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change VAT on hearing aid audiologist treatment.

Paul Boateng: Customs and Excise are consulting businesses and bodies such as the Royal National Institute for the Deaf to assess whether recent legal rulings have implications for the VAT treatment of audiologist's services provided to a patient at the same time as a hearing aid.

VAT (Charities)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his current estimate is of the revenue that would be forgone were he to treat charities in the same way as local authorities under section 33 of the VAT Act 1994.

Paul Boateng: No such estimate has been made.

VAT Misdeclarations

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Exchequer has received in penalties arising from misdeclaration of value-added tax (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of the total tax value for VAT in each of the last four years.

Paul Boateng: It is not possible to provide the information requested since no separate record is kept of payments of VAT misdeclaration penalties. Payments of all penalties as a percentage of total VAT receipts over the last four years, all expressed in real terms, were as shown in the table.
	
		
			  Penalties receipts (£ million) Total VAT receipts(32) (£ billion) Percentage 
		
		
			 2000–01 13.5 102.6 0.13 
			 1999–2000 12.0 98.2 0.12 
			 1998–99 10.6 93.7 0.11 
			 1997–98 10.4 91.6 0.11 
		
	
	(32) Does not include penalty receipts

Manufacturing Productivity

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing productivity in each of the last four years.

Paul Boateng: The Government are implementing a comprehensive strategy for delivering stronger productivity growth in the UK. This addresses issues at the regional, national and international levels and involves stakeholders from across all sectors of the economy.

E-commerce

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the present and future impact of e-commerce on the concept for tax purposes of corporate residence.

Dawn Primarolo: E-commerce of itself is unlikely to have significant short-term impact on the concept for tax purposes of corporate residence. However the UK tax authorities continue to be engaged in discussions at OECD, in consultation with the business community, on this and related e-commerce issues.

Tax Planning (Revenue Losses)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax lost to the Inland Revenue in each of the last four years as a consequence of tax planning by accountancy firms.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax planning is a term commonly used to describe the organisation of financial affairs in an entirely lawful manner in order to minimise liability to tax. It is not really practicable to estimate the tax liabilities that would have arisen had accountants organised the affairs of their clients in a less efficient manner. Consequently, there can be no reliable measure of the tax lost to the Inland Revenue as a consequence of tax planning.

Beer Duty

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumption he has made in his forecasts for the revenue from beer duty of the rate of duty pass-on by retailers to their customers.

Paul Boateng: Appendix A1 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2000 details the assumption made regarding pass-on of excise duty by retailers to consumers. This assumption is unchanged.

Beer Duty

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the rate of beer duty on the volume of duty-paid imports from other EU countries.

Paul Boateng: About 1 per cent. of all beer consumed in the UK has been legitimately bought duty-paid in another EU country. The impact of changes to the rate of beer duty on this volume appears to have been negligible.

Beer Clearances

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what he attributes the fall in beer clearances over the last decade.

Paul Boateng: Between 1990–2001 and 2000–01 beer clearances fell by 9 per cent. on the basis of alcohol content. The fall is likely to have resulted from numerous contributory factors which are not possible to attribute accurately.

Green Technology Challenge

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he expects to receive the agreement of the EU Commission for his proposals to introduce further enhanced capital allowances under the Green Technology Challenge;
	(2)  when he will publish details of the technologies which he proposes should be eligible for enhanced capital allowances under the Green Technology Challenge;
	(3)  what level of first year enhanced capital allowances he plans to introduce under the Green Technology Challenge;
	(4)  if it is his policy that the sum available for enhanced capital allowances under the Green Technology Challenge should be cash limited;
	(5)  what representations he has made to the European Commission in respect of the Green Technology Challenge proposals listed in paragraph 7.23 of the pre-Budget report.

Paul Boateng: The Government propose to introduce enhanced capital allowances under the Green Technology Challenge during 2002–03. Work is continuing in order to identify specific technologies that are suitable candidates for inclusion in the scheme. Details of qualifying technologies will be announced in due course. Decisions on whether it is necessary to seek European Commission approval for the inclusion of specific technologies in the scheme will be taken once qualifying technologies have been identified.
	It is not currently proposed that the sum available for enhanced capital allowances under the Green Technology Challenge will be cash limited. The proposal is that all investments in eligible technologies will qualify for enhanced capital allowances. No decision has been made on the level of first year enhanced capital allowances to be introduced under the Green Technology Challenge.

BP Ltd. v. EEC

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for Government policy of the decision of the European Court of Justice in the case of BP Ltd. v. EEC (27 September 2000, Ref. T-184/97).

Paul Boateng: The Government believe that their policies are consistent with the decision of the Court of First Instance of the European Court of Justice in the case of BP Ltd. v. EEC. The case, however, currently proceeds on appeal to the ECJ.

Alcohol

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of drawback paid on alcohol in 2000–01.

Paul Boateng: The level of drawback paid on alcohol in 2000–01 was £32,619,309.

Retail Prices Index

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue yield and impact on the retail prices index of revalorisation of excise duties at (a) the present rate of inflation and (b) the present rate of inflation less the mortgage component of inflation.

Ruth Kelly: The revenue yield from changes in excise duties is shown in Table 6 of "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" published by HM Treasury in November 2001. The impact on the retail prices index of revalorising a particular excise good is contingent on a number of factors including the nature of the excise good in question, and its retail price at the time of any duty change.

Income Tax

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many PAYE coding notices changes were made by the Inland Revenue in (a) 1970–71, (b) 1980–81, (c) 1990–91 and (d) 2000–01.

Dawn Primarolo: The total number of PAYE coding notices issued during the year 2000–01 was 31,056,370.
	Statistics for 1970–71, 1980–81 and 1990–91 are no longer available.

Income Tax

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what studies the Inland Revenue has commissioned into reform of the administration of income tax since 1997; and if he will list their (a) names, (b) authors and (c) publication dates or expected publication dates;
	(2)  what studies the Inland Revenue has commissioned into replacing the PAYE coding system with a non- cumulative, end-of-year reconciliation system (a) before 1997 and (b) since 1997; and if he will place copies in the Library;

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue keeps all aspects of the administration of income tax including PAYE under continuous review. Internal reviews of the tax system or possible changes to it are published where it is appropriate to do so.

Income Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of income to be paid in tax by the top (a) 1 per cent., (b) 5 per cent. and (c) 10 per cent. and the bottom 50 per cent. of tax payers in 2001–02.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates for income tax as a percentage of total income for the quantile groups specified are in the table.
	
		
			  Quantile group Tax liability as a percentage of total income 2001–02 
		
		
			 Top 1 per cent. 34 
			 Top 5 per cent. 30 
			 Top 10 per cent. 27 
			 Bottom 50 per cent. 8 
		
	
	The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the November 2001 pre-Budget report.

Income Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of people who would cease to pay income tax if the personal income tax allowance were raised to (a) £5,000, (b) £7,500 and (c) £10,000; and what his estimate is of the cost of raising the personal income tax allowance to (i) £5,000, (ii) £7,500 and (iii) £10,000.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of people who would cease to pay income tax in 2001–02 if the personal allowance were raised and the cost of raising the allowance are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Personal allowance Number of people taken out of income tax (thousand) Cost of increasing the personal allowance (£ billion) 
		
		
			 £5,000 600 2.6 
			 £7,500 3,700 15.1 
			 £10,000 6,800 25.9 
		
	
	The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2001.

Tax Units

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of tax units will be paying more income tax and national insurance in real terms in 2001–02 than in 1996–97; and how many tax units will be paying a higher proportion of their gross income in tax and national insurance in 2001–02 than 1996–97.

Dawn Primarolo: It would be possible to provide a reliable answer only at disproportionate cost.

Tax Evasion

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of tax evasion in each of the last four years have led to a recovery of funds; and what proportion of the sums recovered in each case was (a) tax, (b) interest and (c) penalty.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue annual reports, available in the House of Commons Library, set out details, by regional office, of the total number of tax inquiries undertaken for each year.
	Those reports also set out details for each year of the total additional tax, interest and penalties brought into charge as a result of work tackling non-compliance. Details of the number of cases that led to a recovery of funds and the proportion of those recoveries made up of tax, interest and penalties are not readily available and the costs of isolating that information would be disproportionate.

Tax Avoidance

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been taken in each of the last four years to counter tax avoidance; and how much has been saved in each of those years.

Dawn Primarolo: Measures to counter tax avoidance are a regular feature of legislation presented to Parliament in the Finance Bill. However, it is not feasible to measure the difference between the amount of tax paid to the Exchequer and the amount of tax that would have been paid had these measures not been in place. It is therefore not possible to assess with any degree of accuracy the amount of tax saved as a result of anti-avoidance measures.

Incomes

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) amount and (b) share of pre-tax income accrued to the (i) top 1 per cent., (ii) top 5 per cent., (iii) top 10 per cent., (iv) top 25 per cent., (v) bottom 70 per cent., (vi) bottom 5 per cent. and (vii) all taxpayers in 2000–01; and what the (A) amount and (B) share of tax liability was for each of these groups.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Group of taxpayers Pre-tax income (£ million)(33) Percentage of total Tax liability (£ million)(33) Percentage of total 
		
		
			 Top 
			 1 per cent. 64,000 12 21,900 23 
			 5 per cent. 133,000 24 39,600 41 
			 10 per cent. 186,000 34 49,700 51 
			 Bottom 
			 70 per cent. 224,000 41 24,100 25 
			 5 per cent. 7,000 1 70 (34)— 
			  
			 All 553,000 100 97,000 100 
		
	
	(33) Non-taxable income such as that from ISAs is not included as this information is not available on an individual basis.
	(34) Negligible
	These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the November 2001 pre-Budget report.

Inland Revenue Rewards

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to section 32 of the Inland Revenue Regulation Act 1890, if Commissioners have made use of this power since 1972 to reward their own officers involved in a case.

Dawn Primarolo: We are not aware of any cases in which the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have used their power under section 32 of the Inland Revenue Regulation Act 1890 to reward their own officers.

Children's Tax Credit

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families in Stoke-on-Trent who will benefit from the increase in children's tax credit in April 2002.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government announced in Budget 2001 that we would increase the children's tax credit to up to £20 a week for families in the year of a child's birth from April 2002. This is expected to benefit around half a million families, but no estimate is available of the number that will benefit in Stoke-on-Trent.

Smuggling

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cars with their contents of tobacco and alcohol were confiscated by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the last 12 months; and how many of these cars originated in the north-east.

Paul Boateng: Customs records of the numbers of vehicles seized do not disaggregate between the nature of the offences, the type of vehicle or the origin of the vehicle involved in each case.
	For the number of vehicles seized by Customs, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 625W.

World AIDS Day Postcards

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many World AIDS Day postcards promoted by the World Development Movement and Jubilee Scotland were received by his Department in 2001.

Paul Boateng: 746 World AIDS Day postcards promoted by the World Development Movement and Jubilee Scotland were received by HM Treasury in 2001.

Aircraft Fuel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to tax aircraft fuel.

Paul Boateng: The Government's taxation plans are announced in my right hon. Friend's annual Budget.

Poverty Relief

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions he has set to define the relief of poverty in respect of his 2015 targets arising from trade liberalisation as set out in his Ottawa speech.

Paul Boateng: Full trade liberalisation could lift at least 300 million people out of poverty by 2015. Even diminishing protectionist tariffs in agriculture and in industrial goods and services by 50 per cent. would boost the world's yearly income by nearly 400 billion US dollars, a boost to growth of 1.4 per cent. Developing countries would gain 150 billion US dollars and a greater than average increase in GDP growth.
	That is why we strongly welcome the WTO agreement in Doha to launch a new trade round focused on development. And in the next phase we must take forward the agreements to open up trade in agriculture, build the capacity of developing countries to participate more effectively in the negotiations and open up greater access to medicines.
	On the other hand developing countries must pursue corruption-free policies for stability, for opening up trade and for creating a favourable environment for investment. In return, developed countries should be prepared to increase assistance to meet the 2015 UN millennium development goals agreed.
	Developed countries have the responsibility for ensuring that trade liberalisation is accompanied by social justice, creating conditions under which people in developing countries are enabled to benefit from expanding economic opportunities.
	Towards this end all developed countries should offer access to all but military products from the least developed countries and, by banning export credit guarantees for unproductive expenditure, discourage and diminish the diversion to arms expenditure of resources needed for education and health.

Tax Relief (Residential Care)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give tax relief for those taxpayers who are paying the full cost of a spouse residing in a nursing home.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have no plans to introduce tax relief for those taxpayers who are paying the full cost of a spouse residing in a nursing home.

Working Families Tax Credit

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the working families tax credit on the income levels of the poorest working families in the Edinburgh North and Leith constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: The working families tax credit (WFTC) is a success in making work pay for families with children. At August 2001 WFTC was helping 1,270,000 families. This is 52 per cent. more families than were benefiting from family credit at its peak, and families were receiving on average around an extra £35 per week. In the Edinburgh, North and Leith constituency 1,216 families with children were benefiting from WFTC at August 2001.

Working Families Tax Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (a) are eligible for the working families tax credit and (b) claim the working families tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of recipients of working families tax credit (WFTC) are shown in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiries, copies of which are in the Library. No reliable estimate of the number of families eligible for WFTC in 2000–01 can be attempted until the Family Resources Survey for 2000–01 is analysed.

Insurance (Reserving)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the tax system on reserving in the insurance business.

Dawn Primarolo: No such assessment has been made.

Tax Competition

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the most recent (a) report and (b) other publication of the Code of Conduct Group on harmful tax competition.

Dawn Primarolo: As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained in the answer he gave my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 770W, the ECOFIN Council received a written report from the Code of Conduct Group at its meeting on 4 December 2001.
	The Code of Conduct states that it is for ECOFIN to decide whether reports should be published. On 28 February 2000, the ECOFIN Council agreed to publish the Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) Report of 23 November 1999.

Customs and Excise

Eric Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many domestic motor cars were seized by HM Customs and Excise during 2000;
	(2)  how many domestic motor cars were seized by HM Customs and Excise as a consequence of seizures of (a) alcohol and (b) tobacco during 2000;
	(3)  how many motor cars have been seized by HM Customs and Excise (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) which were registered in west Yorkshire, (c) which were registered in south Yorkshire and (d) which were registered in Barnsley in the last three years.

Paul Boateng: Customs records of the number of vehicles seized do not disaggregate between the nature of the offences, the type of vehicle or the origin of the vehicle in each case.
	For the number of vehicles seized by Customs in 2000–01, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 625W.
	For the number of vehicles seized by Customs in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, South (Mr. Tynan) on 8 January 2001, Official Report, column 794W.

Lower Income Earners

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of the income of the bottom 10 per cent. of income earners in each of the last four years taken by (a) VAT and (b) other indirect tax.

Paul Boateng: Precise information on income earners is not available. The closest information available is that published in "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income, 1999–2000", Economic Trends No. 569, April 2001.

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: An assessment of the impact of changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme will be made as part of the current review of the scheme. A consultation document will be issued shortly.

Aggregates Levy

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 805W, question 25025, on the aggregates levy, if he will specify the environmental benefits the imposition of the aggregates levy in Scotland will deliver.

Paul Boateng: The aggregates levy will bring about environmental benefits by making the price of aggregates better reflect the environmental costs of their extraction (noise, dust, visual intrusion, loss of amenity and damage to biodiversity) and by encouraging the more efficient use of aggregate and the greater use of alternative recycled materials.
	HEALTH

Tilt Report

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have moved out of hospitals as a result of the implementation of the Tilt report.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 December 2001
	Additional funding is being made available, as recommended in the Tilt report, to facilitate the movement, by 2004, of patients no longer needing high security care. The funding is being made available to aid the development of new services to help reduce delays in moving patients. A target for the number of patients to be moved, and the associated funding, has recently been agreed with each region.

IT Systems

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the use of the international ICD coding standard for recording clinical details for all patient activity in other countries.

Hazel Blears: There are approximately 41 countries that have planned or actually implemented the latest version of ICD which is ICD-10 for the coding of national mortality and morbidity statistics including the United States of America, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many episodes of clinical psychology treatment occurred in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1999–2000.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 November 2001
	During the period from 1996–97 to 1999–2000 the number of new episodes of care fell by nearly 5 per cent. from 197,000 to 188,000. However, the average duration of each episode rose. All information relating to new episodes of care for clinical psychology services for each year since 1988–89, including an explanation of the data, is contained in the statistical report "Clinical psychology summary information for 2000–01, England". A copy of the summary is in the Library and is available on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/public/KT240001.

London Ambulance Service

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many calls the London ambulance service received during the most recent 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many hoax calls were made to the London ambulance service during the last year;
	(3)  what proportion of calls made to the London ambulance service over the last year that were acted upon were deemed inappropriate calls;
	(4)  what was the average time it took, for the latest year for which figures are available, for the London ambulance service to respond to calls; and what the equivalent figures were for the previous three years;
	(5)  what was the average response time of the London ambulance service over the last year;
	(6)  how many call outs were made to the London ambulance service in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(7)  how many calls to the London ambulance service during the last year were screened, with a subsequent determination that the sending of an ambulance was not necessary.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Information about the number of emergency calls and the number resulting in an emergency response arriving at the scene of the reported incident for the London ambulance national health service trust are contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2000/01". The bulletin also contains information about the response times to emergency calls. A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0115.htm.
	Information on the number of hoax calls made to the London Ambulance Service (LAS) is not collected centrally. However, the LAS classify a hoax call as one where, on arrival of an ambulance crew or first responder, there is no patient to be found at the scene. The LAS recorded 391 such calls between the beginning of January and the end of November 2001. This figure represents less than 0.5 per cent. of the total workload for that period.
	The LAS recognise that the majority of patients who dial 999 require some form of medical help or other assistance but also believe that, for many, their illness and injuries do not require an emergency ambulance to attend them. It is, however, extremely difficult to set a strict definition as to what constitutes an inappropriate call.
	The LAS launched on 17 December 2001 a public education campaign to reduce the more blatant inappropriate use of the service by patients who could make their own way to an accident and emergency department or, in some cases, do not require hospital treatment at all. The campaign also highlights the fact that people should not phone the LAS for advice and so clog up the 999 call-taking system, but should instead be phoning NHS Direct or seeking advice from their GP.

Community Pharmacists

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what was the value of the fee paid to community pharmacists in December 1997;
	(2)  what is the value of the fee paid to community pharmacists; and what was the value in December (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Community pharmacies in England are paid a variety of fees and allowances, but the basic dispensing fee paid for the large majority of prescriptions is currently 87.4p. Comparable fee levels for prescriptions dispensed in December 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 are shown in the table.
	
		pence 
		
			 December Basic dispensing fee 
		
		
			 1997 94.1 
			 1998 94.1 
			 1999 97.5 
			 2000 97.5

Community Pharmacists

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much community pharmacy contractors are receiving in dispensing fees; and what the equivalent figure was in May 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	For September 2001 (the latest month for which figures are available) total remuneration paid to pharmacy contractors in England was £58.8 million. The equivalent figure for May 1997 was £52.9 million.

Prescriptions

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England and Wales failed to get all or part of their prescriptions dispensed between 1 December 2000 and 1 December 2001.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The information requested is not available for England. Responsibility for the national health service in Wales lies with the National Assembly for Wales.

Orthodontist Services

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orthodontists there were in England (a) at the latest available date and (b) in March 1997, broken down by each health authority area.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital dental consultants within the orthodontics specialty by health authority(35)—as at 30 September 2000 -- Number
		
			   1997 2000 
		
		
			 England 150 160 
			
			 Avon HA 10 10 
			 Barking and Havering HA 0 0 
			 Barnet HA — 0 
			 Barnsley HA — — 
			 Bedfordshire HA 0 0 
			 Berkshire HA 0 0 
			 Bexley and Greenwich HA — 0 
			 Birmingham HA 10 10 
			 Bradford HA 0 0 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 0 — 
			 Bromley HA 0 — 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 0 0 
			 Bury and Rochdale HA — — 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 0 0 
			 Cambridge HA 0 0 
			 Camden and Islington HA 10 10 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA 0 0 
			 County Durham HA — — 
			 Coventry HA 0 — 
			 Croydon HA 0 0 
			 Doncaster HA 0 0 
			 Dorset HA 0 0 
			 Dudley HA 0 0 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 0 0 
			 East and North Hertfordshire HA 0 — 
			 East Kent HA 0 0 
			 East Lancashire HA 0 0 
			 East London and The City HA 0 0 
			 East Riding HA 0 0 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA 0 0 
			 Enfield and Haringey HA 0 — 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA — — 
			 Gloucestershire HA — — 
			 Herefordshire HA — 0 
			 Hillingdon HA — 0 
			 Isle of White HA — — 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 0 0 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 10 20 
			 Leeds HA 10 0 
			 Leicestershire HA 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire HA 0 0 
			 Liverpool HA 0 0 
			 Manchester HA 0 0 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 0 0 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 0 — 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA — 0 
			 Norfolk HA 0 0 
			 North and East Devon HA — 0 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 0 0 
			 North Cheshire HA 0 0 
			 North Cumbria HA 0 0 
			 North Derbyshire HA 0 0 
			 North Essex HA 0 0 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA — — 
			 North Staffordshire HA 0 0 
			 North West Lancashire HA 0 — 
			 North Yorkshire HA 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire HA 0 0 
			 Nottingham HA 0 0 
			 Oxfordshire HA 0 0 
			 Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA 0 0 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 0 0 
			 Rotherham HA 0 0 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 0 0 
			 Sefton HA 0 0 
			 Sheffield HA 0 0 
			 Shropshire HA 0 0 
			 Somerset HA 0 0 
			 South and West Devon HA 0 0 
			 South Cheshire HA 0 0 
			 South Derbyshire HA 0 0 
			 South Essex HA 0 0 
			 South Humber HA 0 0 
			 South Lancashire HA 0 — 
			 South Staffordshire HA 0 0 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire HA 0 0 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley HA 0 0 
			 Stockport HA 0 0 
			 Suffolk HA 0 0 
			 Sunderland HA 0 0 
			 Tees HA 0 0 
			 Wakefield HA 0 0 
			 Walsall HA 0 0 
			 Warwickshire HA 0 0 
			 West Hertfordshire HA 0 0 
			 West Kent HA 0 0 
			 West Pennine HA 0 — 
			 West Surrey HA 0 0 
			 West Sussex HA 0 0 
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 0 0 
			 Wiltshire HA 0 0 
			 Wirral HA 0 0 
			 Wolverhampton HA 0 0 
			 Worcestershire HA 0 0 
		
	
	(35) Where HAs are shown, staff holding appointments in more than one HA are included in each HA. The sum of HA totals therefore differs slightly from the England total and a direct comparison between England totals and HA totals is not advised.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. '—' denotes zero.
	3. '0' denotes less than five.
	Source:
	Department of Health 2000 medical and dental work force census.
	The information relates to hospital-based consultants within orthodontics.
	Data showing the number of principal dentists within the General Dental Service, who have submitted one hundred or more orthodontic claims in a year are in the following table.
	
		General Dental Service: Total number of orthodontists(36)—England
		
			 Health authority 1996–97 2000–01 
		
		
			 Avon 19 29 
			 Barking and Havering 6 8 
			 Barnet 8 20 
			 Barnsley 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 4 3 
			 Berkshire 18 17 
			 Bexley and Greenwich 8 8 
			 Birmingham 12 17 
			 Bradford 1 3 
			 Brent and Harrow 10 5 
			 Bromley 5 7 
			 Buckinghamshire 5 10 
			 Bury and Rochdale 8 13 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 7 8 
			 Cambridge and Huntingdon(37) 9 — 
			 Cambridge(37) — 16 
			 Camden and Islington 4 7 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 4 9 
			 County Durham 3 3 
			 Coventry 2 3 
			 Croydon 9 13 
			 Doncaster 5 8 
			 Dorset 6 8 
			 Dudley 4 10 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 8 13 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 10 15 
			 East Kent 9 12 
			 East Lancashire 8 12 
			 East London and The City 6 13 
			 East Norfolk(37) 16 — 
			 East Riding 6 14 
			 East Surrey 13 14 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 12 9 
			 Enfield and Haringey 9 10 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 3 1 
			 Gloucestershire 10 17 
			 Herefordshire 2 3 
			 Hillingdon 5 7 
			 Isle of Wight 3 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster 1 8 
			 Kingston and Richmond 8 8 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 4 7 
			 Leeds 6 7 
			 Leicestershire 13 21 
			 Lincolnshire 7 10 
			 Liverpool 7 7 
			 Manchester 6 6 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 8 11 
			 Morecambe Bay 3 3 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 4 5 
			 Norfolk(37) — 14 
			 North and East Devon 9 12 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 7 7 
			 North Cheshire 3 4 
			 North Cumbria 3 2 
			 North Derbyshire 9 15 
			 North Essex 21 25 
			 North Nottinghamshire 8 11 
			 North Staffordshire 10 7 
			 North West Anglia(37) 3 — 
			 North West Lancashire 11 8 
			 North Yorkshire 17 17 
			 Northamptonshire 8 12 
			 Northumberland 3 1 
			 Nottingham 7 9 
			 Oxfordshire 6 12 
			 Portsmouth and SE Hampshire 7 4 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 9 10 
			 Rotherham 2 3 
			 Salford and Trafford 12 14 
			 Sandwell 2 6 
			 Sefton 2 2 
			 Sheffield 12 12 
			 Shropshire 6 7 
			 Solihull 2 3 
			 Somerset 6 8 
			 South and West Devon 9 10 
			 South Cheshire 16 16 
			 South Derbyshire 7 13 
			 South Essex 10 12 
			 South Humber 3 5 
			 South Lancashire 6 8 
			 South Staffordshire 5 6 
			 Southampton and SW Hampshire 7 8 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 2 4 
			 Stockport 5 3 
			 Suffolk 15 20 
			 Sunderland 2 3 
			 Tees 4 5 
			 Wakefield 3 2 
			 Walsall 2 3 
			 Warwickshire 2 5 
			 West Hertfordshire 9 15 
			 West Kent 12 19 
			 West Pennine 11 10 
			 West Surrey 13 15 
			 West Sussex 20 26 
			 Wigan and Bolton 16 18 
			 Wiltshire 9 15 
			 Wirral 5 7 
			 Wolverhampton 4 6 
			 Worcestershire 13 12 
			
			 England(38) 739 951 
			 England(39) 679 869 
		
	
	(36) An orthodontist is defined as a principal dentist who submitted 100 or more orthodontic claims in a year.
	(37) In April 1999 Cambridge and Huntingdon, East Norfolk and North West Anglia HAs combined to form two HAs; Cambridge HA and Norfolk HA.
	(38) Dentists are counted for each health authority in which they practice.
	(39) Dentists are counted only once.
	Dentists carrying out orthodontic treatment in the General Dental Service may also be carrying out orthodontic treatment for the Hospital Dental Service; therefore some dentists may have been included in both tables.

West Sussex Health Authority

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what calculation he has made of the cost to West Sussex health authority's budget of his forecast for medical inflation in 2002–03;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the increase in the West Sussex health authority budget for 2002–03 as a result of likely (a) pay inflation, (b) medical inflation, (c) pension contributions and (d) national service framework compliance.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	For 2002–03 the West Sussex health authority has received an uplift of 9.58 per cent. in its recurrent unified allocation that is an additional £53.8 million. This is to cover both pay and non-pay inflation as well as achievement of access and National Service Framework target.
	The West Sussex health authority assesses the impact of pay awards to be £17 million consuming 3.3 per cent. of its 9.58 per cent. uplift.
	Medical inflation is not a recognised term as the effect of medical pay awards and price movements on medical and surgical supplies and drugs forms part of the overall inflation increase.
	There is no specific addition for pension contributions as there are no changes to the superannuation scheme contributions for 2002–03.
	The West Sussex health authority has received additional funding within its allocation to support the achievement of National Service Framework targets. The health authority will receive earmarked additional amounts for:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Cancer 1,127,000 
			 Coronary heart disease 890,000 
			 Mental health 1,112,000 
		
	
	In addition the health authority will receive earmarked additional amounts for:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Information management and technology 823,000 
			 Building capacity 6,302,000 
			 Primary care access 1,238,000 
			  
			 These six items alone total to: 11,492,000

NHS Recipe Book

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who was responsible for drawing up the nutritional quality standards for hospital food included in the official NHS recipe book.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The national health service recipe book, issued in May 2001 as part of the better hospital food programme, requires hospitals to meet estimated average requirements for food energy, and reference nutrient intake for all other nutrients. These standards were set by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, now known as the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

NHS Recipe Book

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to enable patient feedback on the standard and quality of the food they are being served from the NHS recipe book.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Hospitals currently undertake surveys to gain feedback from patients on the standard of their catering services. However, these surveys are designed and implemented locally, do not take a consistent form and do not allow for comparisons to be drawn.
	To address this, the better hospital food panel is developing a national patient catering survey. This will ask a range of questions which have been designed through detailed consultation with patients about the standards of service they expect and will complement the questions on catering which will be included in the national patient survey. It will be issued as part of a new "Catering in a modernised NHS" manual of advice and guidance which will be issued to the national health service in 2002.

Drugs (Theft)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the theft of medical drugs from NHS hospitals and GP surgeries by patients and staff has cost the NHS since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Only the total value and number of losses from national health service trusts, health authorities and primary care trusts, due to "Damage to property due to theft and fraud" is reported to the Department of Health. Information on the cost to the NHS of theft of medical drugs from NHS hospitals by patients and staff is not reported separately.
	No information is collected about theft from general practitioners.

Injury Compensation Claims

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many, and at what cost, injury compensation claims were made against the NHS as a result of non-medical accidents by (a) patients and (b) staff in 2001.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The National Health Service Litigation Authority offers an indemnity to national health service bodies against employer and public liability risks where the relevant incident occurred on or after 1 April 1999. The authority handles those claims which have a potential liability in excess of certain amounts (£10,000 for employers' liability and £3,000 for public liability). In the calendar year 2001 (data available to 6 December 2001) the authority was notified of 2,244 claims made by employees and 732 claims made by third parties (not all of whom will be patients). The total cost of these claims is not yet known as the majority have not yet been settled. The authority is however holding reserves of around £23 million for employers' liability and £6 million for public liability claims in respect of these claims.

Better Hospital Food Panel

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those chefs involved in the better hospital food panel; what the next year's budget for the better hospital food panel will be; and what the remuneration package for the chairman of the better hospital food panel is.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	There are seven chefs currently involved in the better hospital food programme—Mr. John Benson-Smith, Mr. Michael Caines, Mr. Anton Edelman, Mr. Shaun Hill, Mr. Mark Hix, Mr. Eugene McCoy and Mr. Cyrus Todiwala. None of these are members of the better hospital food panel.
	Loyd Grossman, who is the chairman of the panel, has provided his services free of charge since he became involved in the programme in September 2000, and continues to do so. His involvement stems from a real desire to help the national health service modernise and improve its catering services. Likewise, no other members of the panel are remunerated for their involvement.
	The NHS Plan made available £38.5 million over four years to support the programme. The better hospital food panel has no discrete budget, any expenses connected with the panel's meetings and work are met from the better hospital food administrative budget.

Ambulance Response Times

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average response time was in 2001 for the (a) London ambulance service and (b) Sussex ambulance service; and what the Government's target response times were.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. Information for London Ambulance National Health Service Trust and Sussex Ambulance NHS Trust about the proportion of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response time is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2000–01". A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and available at www.doh.gov.uk/ public/sb0115.htm.

Security Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many security staff were recruited for hospital accident and emergency departments in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Security and safety of staff, patients and property in the national health service is of great importance to us.
	Guidance on effective management of security in accident and emergency departments was issued by the NHS Executive in 1997 and was an important aspect of the Government strategy when funding the upgrading of accident and emergency departments.
	Security is provided in trusts by "in-house" staff or by private security organisations.
	The method of provision and level of staffing is a matter for individual trusts dependant on the size of the hospital, the locality, staffing levels and the general configuration of the buildings.

Security Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many security staff by hospital (a) were recruited to and (b) left West Sussex hospitals accident and emergency departments in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The information requested is not available centrally.

Security Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many security staff were assaulted in hospital accident and emergency departments by patients in 2001.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Information on the levels of violent incidents against individual staff group is not collected centrally, but may be held at a local level by national health service employers.
	The Department conducted a survey of national health service trusts in England in 1998–99. The survey found that, on average, seven violent incidents were recorded each month per 1,000 staff. This is equivalent to approximately 65,000 violent incidents against NHS trust staff each year. Details of the survey can be found in Health Service Circular 1999/229: "Managing Violence, Accidents and Sickness Absence in the NHS", a copy of which is in the Library.
	Figures for recorded violent incidents in 2000–01 are currently being analysed by the Department.

Patient Complaints

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many formal complaints were made by patients about NHS services by activity area in each of the last five years; and how many complaints (a) were resolved within (i) four weeks and (ii) eight weeks and (b) remain unresolved.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Data on national health service complaints are available in the Government Statistical Service report, "Handling Complaints: monitoring the NHS complaints procedures, England", copies of which are available in the Library. The data show only complaints resolved within or outside the target for local resolution of 20 working days.

Hospital Cleaning Contracts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to local health authorities on the awarding of hospital cleaning contracts.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Health authorities do not award cleaning contracts for hospitals. It is the responsibility of individual national health service trusts to award cleaning contracts based on the principles of achieving value for money which involves consideration of quality and satisfaction as well as cost.

NHS Direct

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's public awareness strategy is for NHS Direct; and what plans he has to launch an awareness campaign over the winter.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	NHS Direct is an integral part of the Department's "Get the Right Treatment" campaign this winter, as it was last year, and the year before (when the campaign was called "Choose the Right Remedy"). NHS Direct is promoted as one of the range of health care options available to people, along with self-care, the pharmacist, the general practitioner surgery, accident and emergency and 999.
	National activity includes press advertising in television listings and women's weekly magazines, and media relations campaign targeting women's consumer and lifestyle media and a centrally produced A6 folded leaflet distributed through pharmacies and GP surgeries.
	A 'Get the Right Treatment' campaign toolkit has been distributed to all communications leads within the national health service, designed to help them support the national campaign at a local level.

Emergency Ambulance Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to stop the misuse of ambulance emergency services by the general public for non-urgent treatment.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2002
	A number of national health service ambulance trusts have undertaken work to educate their local population about appropriate use of emergency ambulance services.
	A fully crewed frontline ambulance will always be sent to life-threatening emergencies. However, ambulance services do not have to send an ambulance vehicle in response to 999 calls which do not require emergency care. Such calls will continue to receive a consistent and appropriate response based on national clinical standards.

Traditional Medicines Directive

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is towards the traditional medicines directive.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 8 January 2002
	On the basis of preliminary drafts of the proposals, we would see a directive on traditional medicines as a potential opportunity to put in place a legally secure and appropriate regulatory regime for traditional herbal remedies of the kind currently sold as unlicensed herbal remedies under Section 12(2) of the Medicines Act 1968. A regime of this kind would give the public better assurances as to safety and quality as well as providing systematic information about the use of the product. Manufacturers would be able to make agreed minor claims based on traditional use. We understand that the commission will be bringing forward formal proposals shortly. We will wish to scrutinise carefully the detailed provisions of the proposals once they are available.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the National Patient Access Team into waiting list management at Stoke Mandeville hospital;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the district audit analysis of alleged waiting list irregularities at Stoke Mandeville hospital;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the district audit report into the management of waiting lists at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 January 2002
	District audit carried out a thorough investigation, over several weeks, and interviewed 54 witnesses. The investigation was carried out by independent staff, with experience of the relevant issues. The Department considers the report adequate for the issues it was intended to address. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	No formal report was produced following the one day National Patient Access Team review so no report is available to be placed in the Library. The review team identified a number of weaknesses in waiting list management. As a result of this review, the district audit investigation referred to was carried out.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state, in respect of the patients at Stoke Mandeville hospital who were found in the district audit investigation to have been suspended irregularly from waiting lists, how many were patients (a) waiting for the second stage of a bilateral procedure, (b) who self- deferred having declined a reasonable treatment plan and (c) who were suspended without reason.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 January 2002
	The categorisation of suspensions by district audit did not include a specific number of patients waiting for a second stage of a bilateral procedure. These were included in the overall total of 35 patients who had inappropriately waited more than 18 months for treatment and who were categorised as system errors. No further analysis of these patients' cases was carried out, and such analysis would not be feasible without significant additional resources being diverted to the task.
	The categorisation of patients by district audit did not include a specific number of patients who self-deferred having declined a reasonable treatment plan. These were included in the overall total of 35 patients who had inappropriately waited more than 18 months for treatment and who were categorised as system errors.
	43 patients were found by district audit to have been suspended from waiting list inclusion without reason.

Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest figures are for the Mid Essex hospital services NHS trust area for the (a) total number of people waiting for hospital treatment and (b) total number of people waiting less than (i) 18, (ii) 15, (iii) 12 and (iv) six months for hospital treatment.

John Hutton: The total number of patients waiting at Mid Essex hospital services national health service trust at November 2001 is 8,787.
	The additional information requested is given in the table.
	
		Number of patients waiting more than 18 months, up to 18 months, up to 15 months, and up to 12 months for inpatient treatment at Mid Essex hospital services national health service trust
		
			  November 2001 
		
		
			 Number waiting less than 18 months for inpatient treatment 8,787 
			 Number waiting less than 15 months for inpatient treatment 8,726 
			 Number waiting less than 12 months for inpatient treatment 8,335 
			 Number waiting less than 6 months for inpatient treatment 6,361 
		
	
	Source:
	These data are nationally published data, taken from Regional Offices Data Systems.

Older People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of falls as identified in standard 6 of the national service framework for older people.

Jacqui Smith: No detailed estimate of the full cost of falls to the national health service has been made. Hip fracture is the most common serious injury related to falls in older people and as such makes up a large proportion of NHS costs on falls. The national service framework for older people referred to estimated annual costs of hip fracture to the NHS of around £1.7 billion.

Type II Diabetes

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive a response from the UK screening committee on their assessment of high-risk screening for type II diabetes.

Jacqui Smith: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee has decided that further research, which may require some complex studies, is needed to inform its advice. It will report to the Department in 2005.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Road Fuels

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is towards the possible adoption by the EU of lower sulphur control levels for road fuels.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government supported the political agreement reached at the December 2001 EU Environment Council on a Commission proposal to amend Directive 98/70/EC that sets a maximum limit for sulphur of 10 ppm (termed "sulphur-free" fuel) from 1 January 2009, this date being subject to review by the Commission with respect to diesel fuel. The reduction in sulphur will facilitate the optimisation of new engine technology for cars, which will substantially reduce fuel use and benefit motorists—and also reduce climate change and other environmental emissions, especially ultrafine particulate emissions.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the regional reports on the performance of the home energy efficiency scheme.

Michael Meacher: The home energy efficiency scheme (HEES), now marketed as The Warm Front Team, is administered by two scheme managers, TXU Warm Front Ltd. (responsible for the Eastern, East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber) and Eaga Partnership Ltd. (responsible for the rest of England).
	Eaga Partnership provides information (under publications) on its website: www.eaga.co.uk. TXU Warm Front, www.txuwarmfront.co.uk, is currently constructing a website, which will include data on performance. DEFRA's website, www.defra.gov.uk (under energy efficiency), will shortly be updated to identify average waiting times, by area, for insulation and heating measures and general performance delivery information for HEES.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) HEES and (b) HEES Plus grants were paid out in each local authority area in each month since June 2000; and what targets were set for the number of grants to be paid out over the period in order to meet her Department's target of 800,000 grants received by 2004.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 29 November 2001
	The volume of information requested is such that I will write to the hon. Member separately, and place a copy of the letter and the data in the Library of the House.
	The home energy efficiency scheme has an overall target of improving 800,000 properties in the period 2000–04. Between June 2000 and March 2002, the scheme has a target of improving 400,000 properties.

Portland Cement

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will name the domestic manufacturers of Portland cement who operate manufacturing plants accredited to ISO 14001; and what percentage of that industry they represent.

Michael Meacher: There are four domestic manufacturers of Portland Cement: Blue Circle Cement UK; Castle Cement Ltd.; Rugby Cement; and Buxton Lime Industries Ltd. All are members of the British Cement Association and according to their records all the manufacturing plants of these companies are accredited to ISO 14001 representing 100 per cent. of the industry.

Environmental Protection

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been initiated (a) by and (b) against local authorities in England and Wales under section 79(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Michael Meacher: Section 79(1) lists the statutory nuisances covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, although formally prosecution comes under section 80, and cases against local authorities under section 82.
	The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) collect statistics from a sample of local authorities. The latest figures published on 20 December 2001 show that for 2000–01 there were in the order of 238,000 complaints to local authorities resulting in the order of 440 prosecutions. These are broken down as shown in the table.
	
		
			  Complaints Prosecutions 
		
		
			 Domestic 169,810 313 
			 Industrial 11,475 4 
			 Commercial/leisure 34,745 78 
			 Construction/demolition 10,822 39 
			 Vehicles 5,172 2 
			 Other machinery/equipment in streets 6,501 4 
		
	
	The number of prosecutions against local authorities on grounds of statutory nuisance are not held centrally.

Landfill Sites

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines exist to determine permitted distance between landfill sites and occupied private housing.

Michael Meacher: The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 requires a local planning authority to consult the Environment Agency before granting planning permission for development within 250 metres of land which is or has, at any time in the 30 years before the relevant planning application, been used for the deposit of refuse or waste. Guidance to the agency in Waste Management Paper 27 on Landfill Gas, published in 1991, contains guidelines on the proximity of new housing developments to landfill sites. These guidelines do not arise from European legislation and we have had no discussions with the European Commission about changes to the guidance.
	In addition, under section 42 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency must take the steps needed to ensure that the activities authorised by a waste management licence do not cause environmental pollution, harm to human health or serious detriment to local amenities; and the conditions of a licence are complied with.
	Following implementation of the Landfill Directive, the Environment Agency will be required to exercise its functions under the directive in order to prevent, or reduce as far as possible, negative effects from the landfilling of waste on the environment and any resulting risk to human health during the whole life cycle of the site. The directive also requires local planning authorities to take into consideration the distance from the site boundary when considering the location of a new landfill site. This requirement has applied to all new landfill sites from 16 July 2001 but is not applied retrospectively to existing landfill sites.
	The Environment Agency can suspend, vary or revoke a waste management licence or, in future, the permit issued under the terms of the Landfill Directive, where it appears the continuation of activities would cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health or where the conditions of the permit or licence are breached.

Landfill Sites

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest assessment is of progress towards targets for the reduction of waste in landfill sites.

Michael Meacher: We have set a target to cut the amount of industrial and commercial waste going to landfill in England to 85 per cent. of that landfilled in 1998 by 2005. The statutory targets for reducing waste landfilled are set in the EU landfill directive. These are that by 2010 biodegradable municipal waste landfilled must be reduced to 75 per cent. of that produced in 1995, by 2013 to 50 per cent., and by 2020 to 35 per cent. The table provides estimates of the amounts of municipal waste landfilled in England and Wales based on the DEFRA annual survey of Municipal Waste Management.
	
		England and Wales -- Percentage (mtonnes)
		
			  MW MW landfilled BMW landfilled/ 1995 BMW 
		
		
			 1995–96 25.2 — — 
			 1996–97 26.0 85 87 
			 1997–98 27.2 85 91 
			 1998–99 27.9 82 91 
			 1999–2000 29.3 81 94 
		
	
	Note:
	Assumes proportion of MW which is biodegradable remains at 62.5 per cent.
	In 1999–2000, the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill was 94 per cent. of that produced in 1995–96. Although the percentage of municipal waste going to landfill is reducing, the tonnage is still rising because the amount of waste being produced continues to rise. Statutory targets to triple local authority recycling and composting of household waste by 2005–06 in England will help reduce landfilling, and tradable landfill permits issued to waste disposal authorities will require them to meet the directive's targets. We will bring forward primary legislation for the permits scheme as soon as parliamentary time allows.

CFC Disposal

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest assessment is of the cost to be incurred by (a) private businesses, (b) local government and (c) the Exchequer of implementing the EU directive on CFC disposal.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 December 2001
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on substances that deplete the ozone layer was undertaken in December 1998. It estimated that the total costs of compliance for business, charities and voluntary organisations would be £370 million. The report put that figure in context by stating that under the then current EC Regulation (3093/94), it was estimated that end-users would make investments totalling £4 billion spread over the next 10 to 15 years. The main effect of the new regulation would be to bring forward the timing of some of those investments.
	The RIA did not estimate compliance costs for the extraction of ozone-depleting substances from the insulating foam in domestic refrigeration equipment as the draft proposal did not make it mandatory. It was not until June 2001 that the European Commission gave EU member states its final interpretation of the regulation that did require the recovery of controlled substances in the insulating foam of domestic fridges and freezers. My Department recently announced a payment of £6 million to English local authorities to cover their costs of handling fridges and freezers until March 2002. We are urgently assessing the impacts of the regulation, including the costs, and will determine what further action is required beyond that.

Recycled Plastic

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in creating a market for recycled plastic; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) was created in January 2001 to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, and to help remove barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.
	Plastics are one of WRAP's seven set targets to increase mixed plastics recycling by 20,000 tonnes for industrial products and raise awareness of the range and quality of recycled products available.
	On 5 December WRAP announced that they are funding a series of six regional workshops on plastics recycling to be delivered by the plastics recycling body, RECOUP. These seminars will focus on plastics collection and procurement, as well as providing a showcase for products.

Environment Council

Jim Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Environment Council held in Brussels on 12 to 13 December; what the Government's position was on each issue discussed, including their voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I represented the UK at the Environment Council held in Brussels on 12 December 2001. This was the final Environment Council of the Belgian presidency. Council reached political agreement on two common positions, with the UK voting in favour of both. Council agreed conclusions on a wide-ranging set of topics: sustainable development, international environmental governance, a review of the pesticides authorisation directive (91/414 EC), a Commission Communication on the first phase of the European Climate Change Programme and a Communication on a strategy for dioxins, furans and PCBs. There was a policy debate on a proposed directive setting up an EU greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme.
	There were four items on the agenda under the heading of Climate Change. Council heard a report back on the successful outcome of the Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP7) in Marrakech, which took place between 29 October and 10 November. The importance of member states now pressing ahead with ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was stressed. Council also heard a presidency progress report on a decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Once the decision is agreed individual member states and the EU will be able to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the expectation being that they will do so before the World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002.
	Council conclusions were also agreed on the implementation of the first phase of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP), a package of common and co-ordinated policies and measures to reduced greenhouse gas emissions that has been prepared in discussion with member states and stakeholders.
	During an orientation debate on a proposed EU greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme all member states expressed support for the establishment of such a scheme. Member states were split on whether the initial phase should have voluntary or mandatory participation. There was broad agreement, however, that credits should be allocated free of charge during the initial phase, and there was also broad support for starting with carbon dioxide alone, with a view to extending the scheme to other greenhouse gases in the future.
	Political agreement on a common position was agreed on a proposed directive to bring community rules into line with the second pillar of the Aarhus Convention dealing with public consultation in environmental decision- making. The Council endorsed European Parliament amendment aiming to improve information to the public about decisions taken, and to enhance the use of electronic media. The Commission wanted the proposal to apply to updating of all permits, including very minor changes. The common position will only apply in such cases likely to give rise to significant environmental effects. The Commission reserved its position to return to the issue at second reading.
	Council reached political agreement on a proposal to introduce sulphur-free (<10 ppm) petrol and diesel in every member state from 1 January 2005 alongside existing fuels. Council agreed that from 1 January 2009 the use of this fuel should be mandatory. The proposal will mean lower exhaust emissions and will facilitate improvements in fuel economy in the future. The UK achieved its key objective of ensuring that the agreement would not impose fuel quality restrictions on fuel (diesel) used by non-road mobile machines (NRMM's) in advance of a full Commission review of the costs and benefits of such a measure. Council agreed conclusions in response to the Commission's communication on a strategy for dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls. The strategy proposes a number of actions aimed at preventing the formation and release of these substances; further identification of sources; establishment of indicators; and faster, cheaper measurement methods. Council broadly welcomed the Commission's approach, and asked for it to consider a number of options, including the setting of limit values for emissions under the integrated pollution prevent and control directive, improved measurement methods, and possible instruments for the control of non-industrial sources of emissions.
	Council heard a brief presidency progress report on the proposed regulation on traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms. Some provisional agreement had been reached on parts of the text, although issues such as the scope, and the treatment of derived products, need further work. The UK supports the need for an effective traceability and labelling system to deliver reliable information and dependable consumer choice.
	Council Conclusions on the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) clarified the role of Environment Council and its complementarity to other Council formations and the General Affairs Council's general co-ordinating role; offered views on the four priorities identified by the Gothenburg European Council and promoted the development of an external dimension to the EU SDS. Council asked the permanent representatives to report back on how to improve arrangements for co-ordinating work on sustainable development. On Global Environmental Governance, Council agreed Conclusions underlining the need to strengthen international environmental structures, as part of the preparations for, and follow up to, the World Summit on Sustainable Development. They referred to the need to strengthen the financial situation of the United Nations Environment Programme, including a call for countries to step up their efforts to contribute at the level of the UN assessed rate.
	Conclusions on the Commission's evaluation of the Pesticides Authorisation Directive (91/414 EC) broadly supported the Commission's approach. Council recognised that the review of existing active substances could not be completed within the current timetable of end of 2003. It therefore extended the period for the review to the end of 2008 but to only the end of 2005 for higher priority substances. Council also called on the Commission to cover a number of detailed issues in further work in this area including the proposed revision of the directive and a thematic strategy on pesticides.
	The Commission presented a proposal for the revision of directive 96/82 (Seveso II), and a proposal for the revision of recovery and recycling targets in the directive on packaging and packaging waste. The Commission also gave progress reports on proposed directives on an EU chemicals strategy, recycling of batteries and accumulators and air quality limits for heavy metals in ambient air. The UK drew members states' attention to the problems for air quality posed by rising background levels of ozone precursors, and asked the Commissioner to consider what action was necessary.
	Council also heard progress reports on a thematic strategy for the sustainable use of pesticides and on the revision of Regulation 2455/92 (trade in certain dangerous chemicals) which is necessary to enable the EC to become a Party to the Rotterdam Convention. There were also progress reports on the ratification of the Rotterdam Convention and the IMO Convention on TBT, and on Community implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Commission also briefed Council on the progress of accession negotiations on the environment with the candidate countries.
	Over lunch Ministers held a discussion on Global Environmental Governance and the outcome of the recent WTO negotiations in Doha. Ministers agreed to press Heads of Government to attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, and to include a commitment to that effect in the Laeken European Council conclusions.

Liquid Refrigerants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost per unit for the disposal of the liquid refrigerant in (a) refrigerators, (b) deep-freezers, (c) fridge-freezers and (d) air conditioning units.

Michael Meacher: It is estimated that the disposal of liquid refrigerants, through high temperature incineration, costs approximately £1–2/kg. The cost will vary with the type of container and the size of the consignment. The volume of refrigerant is usually between 70–300 grams depending on the size of appliance, although large air conditioning units can contain rather more refrigerant. This would result in a cost of between seven and 60p per unit.

Liquid Refrigerants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure the separation of different types of refrigerant liquids extracted from waste appliances.

Michael Meacher: Under EC Regulation No. 2037/2000 all CFCs removed from waste appliances must be destroyed. The effect of Articles 9 and 10 of the waste framework directive is to require the disposal or recovery of waste to be carried out under the terms of a permit issued by the Environment Agency. The conditions set by the agency in these permits control matters such as the separation of different types of liquid extracted from waste appliances.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding options she is considering to assist local authorities in the storage and processing of waste refrigeration equipment.

Michael Meacher: The Department recently announced a payment of £6 million to English local authorities to cover their costs of handling fridges and freezers until March 2002. We shall urgently assess the impacts of the regulation and will determine what further action is required beyond that.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the capability of UK high temperature incinerator facilities to deal with the ozone depleting substances from refrigerators.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 December 2001
	The UK's high temperature incinerator facilities have sufficient capacity to deal with all ozone depleting substances from waste refrigerators arising in the UK. In addition I understand that up to 8,000 fridges per week can be disposed of via high temperature incineration in the UK.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she makes available on the safe disposal of commercial refrigerators containing CFCs under EC Regulation 2037/2000.

Michael Meacher: The Department issued guidance on the storage of all waste refrigeration equipment, including commercial refrigerators, prior to CFC extraction at the beginning of December 2001. Draft guidance on the extraction of CFCs from fridges and freezers has also been issued and is now being finalised by the Environment Agency.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects plans for recycling plants for refrigerators to be finalised; and when she expects local authorities to be informed.

Michael Meacher: I understand that a number of commercial companies are investing in plant in the UK and that some plant may be in operation from spring 2002. My Department will host a progress meeting between investors in recycling plant and representatives from local authorities shortly.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what precautions have been taken to ensure that there are alternative recycling routes for used commercial refrigerators and freezers.

Michael Meacher: The Department has worked closely with the waste management industry and other stakeholders to identify a range of recycling and disposal routes for used commercial refrigerators and freezers. These include refurbishment of working units, disposal via high temperature incineration, export for recycling in other member states or storage in the UK pending treatment. Work is continuing on finalising standards for treatment centres which will inform investment decisions on new facilities.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) representations he has received from and (b) guidance has been issued to (i) retailers, (ii) pub owners, (iii) caterers, (iv) hoteliers, (v) restaurateurs and (vi) vending machine operators about the disposal of commercial refrigerators.

Michael Meacher: The Department has received a number of such representations from retailers, pub owners, caterers, hoteliers and restauranteurs and vending machine operators, in particular through their trade associations, via stakeholder meetings, and letters and telephone calls.
	Guidance on the collection, storage and the safe disposal of commercial refrigerators has been disseminated via trade associations at meetings regarding the management of waste commercial refrigeration equipment. This guidance has also been published on my Department's website www.defra.gov.uk.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether there is an available mobile technology capable of removing CFCs from refrigerators and freezers;
	(2)  what attempt there has been to import mobile technology capable of removing CFCs from refrigerators and freezers into the UK; and when such technology can be expected to be in operation.

Michael Meacher: Mobile plant capable of removing CFCs from refrigerators and freezers is available from suppliers in Germany. I understand that a number of companies are intending to import this technology for use in the UK. Mobile plant is expected to be in operation from spring 2002.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether (a) retailers, (b) pub owners, (c) caterers, (d) hoteliers, (e) restauranteurs and (f) vending machine operators will refrain from refurbishing existing commercial refrigeration systems until guidance is available for their safe disposal.

Michael Meacher: There is no reason why commercial operators should refrain from refurbishing commercial refrigeration equipment. Waste refrigeration equipment may be disposed of via high temperature incineration, exported for recycling in other member states, or stored pending treatment in the UK. Guidance on the storage of waste refrigeration equipment, including commercial refrigerators was issued in early December 2001. Officials have met with representatives of the food and drink industry to discuss the disposal routes for commercial refrigeration equipment. Draft guidance on the extraction of CFCs from fridges and freezers has been issued and is now being finalised by the Environment Agency.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the final capacity of the plants capable of removing CFCs from fridges and freezers under EC Regulation 2037/2000;
	(2)  how many plants will be needed to meet the United Kingdom's requirements for removing CFCs from refrigerators and freezers.

Michael Meacher: The number of plants required to recycle waste fridges and freezers in the UK will depend on a number of factors including: the capacity of individual plant (technology used), and the scale of exports of fridges and freezers to other member states for treatment. Following discussions with industry it is anticipated that sufficient capacity for removing CFCs from fridges and freezers will be available to meet UK demand.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the distribution of funding to local authorities for the collection and storage of refrigerators; and what further amounts are expected to be required until recycling plants are in operation.

Michael Meacher: £6 million has been added to the provisional local government finance settlement for 2002–03 for the costs of implementing the ozone depleting substances regulation relating to the period 1 January 2002 to 31 March 2002. This will be distributed to local authorities using Standard Spending Assessments (SSA). We are continuing to assess the impacts of the regulation and will determine what further action is required beyond that.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she expects that the first plants capable of removing CFCs from refrigerators and freezers under EC Regulation 2037/2000 will be open in the UK;
	(2)  where the first plant capable of removing CFCs from refrigerators and freezers under EC Regulation 2037/2000 will be located; and what its capacity will be.

Michael Meacher: It is expected that the first plant capable of removing CFCs from refrigerators and freezers may be in operation from spring 2002. In the meantime I understand that up to 8,000 refrigerators per week can be disposed of via high temperature incineration.
	Decisions regarding the location and capacity of plant are matters for companies investing in these facilities.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the Environment Agency concerning the arrangements for the (a) storage and (b) disposal of fridges in advance of the development of purpose-built infrastructure in the UK.

Michael Meacher: The Department is working very closely with the Environment Agency on the development and finalisation of guidance on the storage and disposal of fridges and more generally on the implementation and enforcement of the ozone depleting substances regulations.

Waste Refrigeration Equipment

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with local authorities concerning the allocation of resources to meet the costs of (a) domestic, (b) commercial and (c) industrial refrigerators and air conditioning units (i) disposal and (ii) recycling in the next financial year; and when sufficient local recycling plants for them are expected to be operational.

Michael Meacher: Representatives of local authorities have attended a number of meetings regarding the disposal and recycling of refrigeration equipment. My officials are working closely with them to assess the impacts.
	Local authorities can charge businesses for the disposal and recycling of commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment or air conditioning units.

Rural Work Force

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) farm workers, (b) ancillary workers and (c) other employees, by category, there were in rural areas by (i) constituency and (ii) local authority for each year since 1990.

Elliot Morley: Figures showing the number of farm workers by constituency and by local authority for 1990, 1995 and 2000 are being made available in the Library of the House. Figures are not readily available for the years in between. Employment figures in the non-agricultural sector are available from the Office for National Statistics. The ONS Local Area Database, which is also available in the House of Commons Library, can provide employment data for local authorities for the period 1994–1999. There are no employment figures for the non-agricultural sector by constituency.

Domestic Gas

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost of fuel required to heat a home to a reasonable level of warmth is for properties that are (a) connected to the gas network and (b) not connected to the gas network.

Michael Meacher: The table sets out the average heating and hot water costs for a typical semi-detached house. The data are derived using the BRE Domestic Energy Model with average fuel costs from SAP 2001 and is based on:
	Property with a floor area of 89 sq. metres.
	Home heated to a temperature of 21 degrees C in the main living area, whole house heated.
	Loft insulation installed. Standard heating pattern of two hours in the morning and seven hours in the evening during weekdays, and 16 hours/day at weekends.
	The actual costs incurred by householders can vary greatly according to the construction of the property, the age and type of heating systems and occupation patterns. A discussion of these varying costs for fuel poor households is provided at Annexe D of the consultation paper, "Fuel Poverty: The New HEES" published in May 1999.
	
		£ per year 
		
			  Heating and hot water cost for home  
			 Heating system With cavity wall insulation With uninsulated cavity walls With solid walls 
		
		
			 Connected to the mains gas network
			 Using high-efficiency gas-fired central heating system 200 270 310 
			 
			 Not connected to the mains gas network
			 Using an oil-fired central heating systems 210 290 340 
			 Using an electric storage heating system 495 675 785

Fixed Penalty Litter Notices

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fixed penalty litter notices were issued in each year since 1995.

Michael Meacher: Details of the number of fixed penalty litter notices issued since 1997 in England and Wales are given in the table. Figures for 1995–96 and 2000–01 are not available.
	
		
			  Penalties issued Penalties paid to local authorities Total of fines received by local authority and being forwarded to DEFRA (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 727 660 16,505.00 
			 1998–99 4,778 2,532 63,240.00 
			 1999–2000 2,970 1,563 39,075.00

Micro-CHP

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policies are for encouraging the use of micro-CHP; and if she will make a statement on their impact.

Michael Meacher: Micro-CHP is a technology which offers great potential for energy efficiency improvements, and reduced energy costs for both homes and small businesses. This Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are carrying out work to investigate the benefits of, and possible barriers to, introducing micro- CHP, through the Government/Industry Distributed Generation Co-ordinating Group.
	As part of its fuel poverty strategy, the Government intend to invite micro-CHP manufacturers to take part in a £10 million large-scale pilot to test the suitability of the technology for fuel poor households. If successful, the intention is to include micro-CHP in the main fuel poverty programmes for those homes that are hard to heat with conventional heating systems.

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to tackle the trade in bushmeat (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) internationally.

Elliot Morley: In the UK our concern about the effects of the bushmeat trade on endangered species led in early 1999 to our drawing the issue to the attention of the UK's Tropical Forest Forum, encouraging it to establish a UK Bushmeat Working Group. The group, supported with funding from the Department, brings together all those in the UK with an interest (Government Departments, conservation NGOs, the timber trade and others) and ensures that information on actions and opportunities for addressing the bushmeat problem is pooled and disseminated as widely as possible. We shall continue to support this initiative.
	Internationally, many animals hunted and traded as bushmeat are listed in the appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Any international trade in these animals, their parts or derivatives is therefore either banned completely or controlled by means of a permitting system. Due to increasing international trade in bushmeat and its impact on listed species, the Department raised the issue within CITES in April 2000. We were successful in our proposal that a CITES Bushmeat Working Group be established, and the Department provided £55,000 towards this. To support the group's work we have commissioned research to analyse existing knowledge and expertise on the bushmeat trade in west and central Africa, highlight gaps in data and understanding, and make recommendations for further action. We intend presenting the results of this research to the next meeting of the working group. The CITES conference taking place in November 2002 will assess the group's progress and consider any further action required.

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the extent of the trade of bushmeat into the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: Many animals hunted and traded as bushmeat are listed in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Any international trade in these animals, their parts or derivatives is therefore either banned completely or controlled by means of a permitting system. Other animals which may be defined as bushmeat, such as small game animals, may be traded legally under Community rules. Since April last year 1,136 seizures of illegally imported animal products have been made of which 55 have been identified as bushmeat.

British Waterways

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to transfer inland waterway and navigation management from the Environment Agency to British Waterways.

Michael Meacher: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) on 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 193W, which explains why we decided that current responsibilities should continue.

Recycled Waste

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated for each London borough on the proportion of waste that is recycled; and if she will provide information on the proportion of (a) glass, (b) wood, (c) cloth and (d) paper that is recycled.

Michael Meacher: The latest data available (for 1999–2000) on the percentage of household waste recycled in each London borough, and in each of the four Joint Waste Disposal Authorities in London, are given in the table. This table also gives the statutory performance standards for the recycling and composting of household waste for each borough.
	Data for 2000–01 are currently being collated from local authorities. The Government do not hold this information broken down by material.
	
		Local authority standards and performance data
		
			   Household waste recycling (including composting)  
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2003–04 2005–06 
			 Authority Recycling rate(40),(41) Recycling rate(40),(42) BV standard(41) BV standard(41) 
		
		
			 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham 3 3 10 18 
			 London Borough of Barnet 9 8 18 27 
			 London Borough of Bexley 18 18 33 36 
			 London Borough of Brent 5 6 10 18 
			 London Borough of Bromley 7 13 14 21 
			 London Borough of Camden 11 13 22 33 
			 London Borough of Croydon 14 13 28 36 
			 London Borough of Ealing 10 12 20 30 
			 London Borough of Enfield 9 9 18 27 
			 London Borough of Greenwich 4 4 10 18 
			 London Borough of Hackney 2 2 10 18 
			 London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham 8 7 16 24 
			 London Borough of Haringey 5 5 10 18 
			 London Borough of Harrow 8 10 16 24 
			 London Borough of Havering 9 (43)n/a 18 27 
			 London Borough of Hillingdon 7 11 14 21 
			 London Borough of Hounslow 14 14 28 36 
			 London Borough of Islington 3 2 10 18 
			 London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 11 13 22 33 
			 London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames 15 18 30 36 
			 London Borough of Lambeth 7 8 14 21 
			 London Borough of Lewisham 4 4 10 18 
			 London Borough of Merton 9 11 18 27 
			 London Borough of Newham 2 3 10 18 
			 London Borough of Redbridge 7 8 14 21 
			 London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames 14 (43)n/a 28 36 
			 London Borough of Southwark 3 3 10 18 
			 London Borough of Sutton 16 (44)— 33 36 
			 London Borough of Tower Hamlets 3 3 10 18 
			 London Borough of Waltham Forest 6 9 12 18 
			 London Borough of Wandsworth 8 7 16 24 
			 North London Waste Authority 6 7 12 18 
			 East London Waste authority 4 3 10 18 
			 West London Waste Authority 9 9 18 27 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority 8 12 16 24 
		
	
	(40) Household waste recycling (including composting) rates are based on data from the DEFRA Municipal Waste Management Survey.
	(41) The best value statutory performance standards for 2003–04 and 2005–06 and baseline recycling/composting rates for 1989–99 were published in "Guidance in Municipal Waste Management Strategies" published by DETR in March 2001.
	(42) Local authority recycling rates for 1999–2000 are provisional.
	(43) N/a not available, authority did not respond to 1999–2000 Municipal Waste Management Survey.
	(44) Estimates under review.

Woodland

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of land in the UK is covered by woodland; what measures are in place to increase the planting of trees and woodland in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the use of sink holes to absorb carbon dioxide and reduce emissions.

Elliot Morley: Woodland cover in the UK stands at 11.5 per cent. We provide financial incentives to landowners to plant new woodland through the woodland grant scheme and the farm woodland premium scheme. These incentives and others, such as challenge funds, are targeted to meet our priorities and programmes for forestry.
	Increasing the areas of sustainably managed forest and agriculture often has environmental benefits in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The contributions that these will make to meeting our 12.5 per cent. emissions reduction commitment under the Kyoto protocol and to our domestic goal to reduce CO 2 emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010, are described in "Climate Change—the UK Programme" and in the "UK's Third National Communication" under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, published in November 2000 and 2001 respectively.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU officials about reclassification of asbestos cement as special waste; and how this relates to use of white asbestos as opposed to (a) blue and (b) brown asbestos.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 10 January 2002
	All types of asbestos waste, including asbestos cement, have been classified as special waste in Great Britain since 1996 and in Northern Ireland since 1998. However there have been recent changes to the hazardous waste list, including the addition of asbestos cement on to the list. These were discussed between EU officials and my officials. We recognise the dangers posed by asbestos cement waste if it is not properly managed and supported the decision to reclassify it as hazardous waste.

England Rural Development Programme

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if appeals against a decision of a regional appraisal panel on an application for a processing and marketing grant under the England Rural Development Programme are considered by the panel making the original decision.

Alun Michael: No. The processing and marketing grant is a competitive and discretionary scheme administered regionally by DEFRA through the offices of the Rural Development Service (RDS). Appeals against non-selection for an award of grant are considered by the regional manager of another RDS region unconnected with the application.

England Rural Development Programme

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are used to assess applications for processing and marketing grants under the England Rural Development Programme.

Alun Michael: Applications for the processing and marketing grant, rural enterprise scheme and vocational training scheme under the England Rural Development Programme are all subject to detailed technical assessment to determine the quality and value for money of the proposed project. The assessment covers: the need for the project; project objectives, performance indicators and milestones; sustainability (economic, environmental and social); relevance to key policy themes and national and regional priorities; financial viability; the requirement for public funds; the quality of plans for project management and delivery and the management of key risk and variables associated with the project. The size of the project determines the depth of the assessment.

Fuel Poverty

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, columns 999–1000, on fuel poverty, which section of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy confirms a commitment to end fuel poverty using a definition which excludes housing benefit and income support and mortgage interest; and if she will make a statement on how this relates to paragraph 4.6 of the strategy.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 10 January 2002
	The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy sets out the goal of the Government and the devolved Administrations to seek an end to the problem of fuel poverty with the first target being to seek an end to the blight of fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010.
	In the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, the introduction to Chapter 4 (paragraphs 4.1 to 4.6) sets out the target for England and the definition to be used in England.
	The number of households in fuel poverty in England is displayed on the basis of the two main definitions as follows:
	a household is in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would be required to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (including housing benefit or income support for mortgage interest (ISMI) on all household fuel use;
	a household is in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would be required to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest (ISMI) on all household fuel use.
	Paragraph 9.4 sets out our intention to move to a single UK-wide definition of fuel poverty once the separate consultations have been completed in the devolved Administrations.
	Until then, the nature of our programmes means that it is likely that the targets will be met on both definitions as set out in paragraph 4.6 of the strategy.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost of decontamination and cleansing of farms was following foot and mouth infections.

Elliot Morley: On premises where secondary cleansing and disinfection has been completed, the average cost per farm is about £39,000.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the change in animal welfare and costs arising from the closure of livestock markets as a result of the foot and mouth epidemic and their replacement by sales via other means.

Elliot Morley: Livestock markets were closed to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. Markets will be reopened as soon as the disease risk assessment allows. In the meantime, livestock producers have found other means of selling their stock and it will be for them and their organisations to decide on how they should best proceed when markets are again available. The costs and benefits of livestock markets is one of the issues we will be considering post-FMD and in the light of the inquiry reports.

Foot and Mouth

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much compensation was paid to farmers in Cumbria as a result of foot and mouth.

Elliot Morley: To date the total compensation paid to farmers in Cumbria, as a result of foot and mouth, is £421.8 million. This includes all compensation paid for animals slaughtered (including those slaughtered under the 3km cull) and for seized and destroyed items.

Foot and Mouth

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which date her Department will use to consider when exports and livestock markets may resume following the foot and mouth disease crisis; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: On 18 December, the Government announced changes to the livestock movement controls which we intend to introduce in February 2002 provided there is continued progress in eradicating FMD.
	From the start of these arrangements, cattle markets will be allowed to resume, but for sheep and pigs, slaughter markets only will be allowed initially. The question of whether to allow other sheep and pig markets will be kept under review in the light of veterinary and scientific advice.
	When markets do re-open, they will be subject to strict conditions to ensure that an appropriate level of biosecurity is maintained.
	Exports of meat from FMD-free counties in Great Britain to EU countries resumed towards the end of last year but at this stage it is not possible to give a firm date for the removal of all remaining FMD restrictions on intra-community trade. The EU Standing Veterinary Committee will meet on 15 January to consider further proposals to relax the export restrictions, imposed on animals and animal products of species susceptible to FMD, introduced to prevent the spread of the virus.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of blood tests taken from (a) sheep, (b) cattle and (c) other livestock during the foot and mouth outbreak tested positively for the FMD virus.

Elliot Morley: Information on blood tests taken by species is not available. However, of the 2,372 premises from which samples were taken, 56 per cent. returned positive results.
	Details of numbers of premises sampled, by county and by premises status, along with the numbers returning positive results, are available in the Library of the House.
	Note:
	A negative lab result does not mean that infection was absent. Each case is confirmed on the basis of a clinical diagnosis of foot and mouth disease by the vet on the farm, supported by convincing clinical evidence.
	Source:
	DEFRA Disease Control System database as at 4 December 2001. These figures may be subject to change while the data validation exercise is being carried out.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many appeals against valuations for FMD compensation were outstanding on 8 January.

Elliot Morley: On 8 January 2002 there were 1,293 unresolved cases as a result of owners appealing against the valuations of livestock compulsorily slaughtered as a result of foot and mouth disease. Of these, 150 are in Scotland.

Foot and Mouth

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recommendations made by each of the working groups at the International Conference on Control and Prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease held in Brussels in December 2001; what plans she has to implement those recommendations in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Conference's working groups usefully highlighted some of the key areas the European Union needs to address and we will be working with our European partners in due course on a Commission proposal for a replacement European Council Directive concerning the prevention and control of foot and mouth disease. The outcome from the UK's own independent inquiries into the foot and mouth outbreak will also inform these deliberations.
	The conference identified the need to develop a broad range of disease control options, based on science and including emergency vaccination, to meet particular circumstances. It was agreed that flexibility in the choice of methods of controlling and eradicating the disease and improved communications are required and that there is an urgent need for tests to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals. The conference also considered ways of preventing future outbreaks, including tightening import controls at the European border.
	Copies of the final conference report have been placed in the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries. It can also be viewed on the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth.

Farming

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution farming made to English GDP in each of the years 1998 to 2001, after the deduction of all (a) subsidies and (b) foot and mouth costs.

Elliot Morley: The table shows the contribution after removing all subsidies that the agricultural industry made to English GDP in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Statistics on agriculture's contribution in 2001 will not be published until 31 January 2002. The Government are spending an additional £2.7 billion to tackle foot and mouth disease and its implications for the rural economy.
	
		Agriculture's contribution to English GDP after removing subsidies(45)
		
			  Contribution (£ billion) Contribution as a percentage 
		
		
			 1998 3.6 0.56 
			 1999 3.4 0.51 
			 2000 2.9 0.41 
		
	
	(45) Subsidies paid directly to farmers and the cost to the exchequer of indirect support of market prices.

Bird Populations

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the change in the number and percentage of British birds from 1990 to 2000 was.

Michael Meacher: The Government's Quality of Life Counts indicator of wild birds uses an index of bird populations set at 100 for 1970. Actual population numbers are not calculated. The values of the index for 1990 and 2000 are presented in the table for all 105 bird species included. Further information on these statistics is published in the DEFRA News Release No. 303/01.
	
		Bird population index
		
			  All birds 
		
		
			 1970 100 
			 1990 102 
			 2000 107

Agricultural Bureaucracy

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff of her Department are engaged in the administration of area and headage payments; and how much time she estimates is required of people outside her Department.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The number of full-time equivalent staff engaged in the administration of area and headage payments is 1,520. The amount of time required of people outside the Department engaged on this work is very limited and relates exclusively to contracted-out work on remote sensing.

Agricultural Bureaucracy

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff of her Department are engaged in the administration of quotas; and how much time she estimates is required of people outside her Department.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The number of full-time equivalent staff engaged in the administration of quotas is 100. There are no people engaged in quota work outside of the Department on its behalf.

Agricultural Quotas

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what agricultural products are the subject of quotas; how many holdings are in possession of each quota; and what is the average size of each quota per holding in possession of that quota.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 January 2002
	Milk and sugar from sugar beet are the two agricultural products subject to quotas. At the end of the 2000–01 quota year there were some 33,000 holders of milk quota in the UK, with an average quota holding of about 429,000 litres. The UK has a quota for 1.14 million tonnes of sugar held by British Sugar, who draw up individual supply contracts with growers. In the marketing year 2001–02 around 8,300 sugar beet farmers are contracted to supply British Sugar with sugar beet.

Combined Heat and Power

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many paper mills invested in combined heat and power plants in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2001–02 to date.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The following number of paper mills invested in new CHP capacity between 1997–98 and 2000–01:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 1 
			 1999–2000 3 
			 2000–01 2 
		
	
	This information is taken from the Digest of UK Energy Statistics. Data for 2001–02 are not currently available.

Combined Heat and Power

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions she has calculated will be saved by the United Kingdom paper industry investing in combined heat and power plants, and over what period, under the Government's targets for climate change.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The latest figures in the DTI published Digest of UK Energy Statistics are for the year 2000 and show the paper industry (including publishing and printing) to be saving approximately 500,000 tonnes of carbon annually through its use of combined heat and power (CHP). In addition, our best estimate of the savings stimulated by the climate change agreements for the paper industry are 140,000 tonnes of carbon annually by 2010 from CHP.

IACS Payments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of IACS payments will have been made to farmers by 31 January.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 January 2002
	At 30 December 20001, 68 per cent. of AAPS applications had been passed for payment.
	The performance this year was initially affected by foot and mouth disease and more particularly lately by industrial action. The union suspended its industrial action on 11 January and the Rural Payments Agency, which is responsible for the administration of the scheme, is making every possible effort to ensure that as many payments as possible are made by 31 January.

Livestock Markets

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when livestock markets in England and Wales will reopen.

Elliot Morley: On 18 December 2001, the Government announced changes to the livestock movement controls which we intend to introduce in February 2002 provided there is continued progress in eradicating foot and mouth disease.
	From the start of these arrangements, cattle markets will be allowed to resume, but for sheep and pigs, slaughter markets only will be allowed initially. The question of whether to allow other sheep and pig markets will be kept under review in the light of veterinary and scientific advice.
	When markets do reopen, they will be subject to strict construction and operating conditions to ensure that an appropriate level of biosecurity is maintained.

Apples and Pears

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to protect United Kingdom crop fruit growers from the effects of EU proposals to amend the marketing standard for apples and pears.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 14 January 2002
	The EU marketing standard for apples and pears is currently under review, proposals having been made to bring variety lists up to date and to separate the standards for apples and pears. Last year the EU Commission also published an informal paper on the possible future amendment of the sizing requirements. Our horticultural marketing inspectorate has consulted widely on this matter with growers' representatives and other interested parties. We will ensure that the views expressed by all stakeholders are taken into consideration in any future discussions.

Parliamentary Questions

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to answer the question tabled on 27 November 2001 by the right hon. Member for Fylde (ref 17652) on payments to farmers.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 January 2002
	I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 11 January 2002, Official Report, columns 1040–41W.

Flood Prevention

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of water companies ending agency working with local authorities and other external agencies for the purpose of flood prevention.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 14 January 2002
	I am aware of no significant impact of any such action. The primary responsibility for flood defence rests with the operating authorities, i.e. the Environment Agency, local authorities and, where they exist, internal drainage boards.

Rural Affairs Forum

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those organisations that have been asked to participate in the Rural Affairs Forum, and give the names of the nominees.

Alun Michael: The organisations and names of the nominees asked to participate in the Rural Affairs Forum are as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Organisations Name of nominees 
		
		
			 Chair Alun Michael 
			 Vice-Chair Elliot Morley 
			 Rural Advocate Ewen Cameron 
			 Association of National Park Authorities Martin Fitton 
			 Council for the Protection of Rural England Gregor Hutcheon 
			 National Trust Tony Burton 
			 Ramblers Association Nick Barrett 
			 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Phil Rothwell 
			 Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Peter Davies 
			 Country Land and Business Association Sir Edward Greenwell 
			 British Horse Society Kay Driver 
			 British Chambers of Commerce Viv Dodd 
			 National Farmers Union John Seymour 
			 Countryside Alliance Richard Burge 
			 Trades Union Congress Barry Leathwood 
			 Co-operative Union Pauline Green 
			 Action with Communities in Rural England Sylvia Brown 
			 Churches Together in England Canon Jeremy Martineau 
			 National Council for Voluntary Organisations Holly Yates 
			 National Federation of Women's Institutes Jill Cobley 
			 National Youth Agency Dave Phillips 
			 Age Concern England Gordon Lishman 
			 East of England Development Agency Marie Skinner 
			 Local Government Association Councillor Christine Reid 
			 National Association of Local Councils Councillor Brian Kerr 
			 English Nature David Arnold-Forster 
			 English Tourism Council Mary Lynch 
			 Environment Agency Andrew Dare 
			 Forestry Commission Paul Hill-Tout 
			 Housing Corporation Fiona Cruickshank 
			 Countryside Agency Richard Cameron 
		
	
	The Secretary to the Forum will be Chris Dunabin.
	A representative of every Regional Forum will attend each meeting of the Rural Affairs Forum for England.
	Other Government Departments, agencies and non- departmental public bodies will have an interest in the work of the Forum and will be invited to attend individual meetings as necessary.

Rural Affairs Forum

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish (a) minutes from and (b) reports to the Rural Affairs Forum.

Alun Michael: We will be publishing the minutes from and reports to the Rural Affairs Forum on the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk.

River Severn (Flooding Model)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the model on flooding on the River Severn being prepared by the Environment Agency.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 14 January 2002
	Operational responsibility for flood management measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency (EA) and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing.
	I understand that the EA's model for the Tidal River Severn downstream of Gloucester has been completed recently. It will be used to develop the Tidal Severn Strategy which the EA plan to publish in summer 2003. The Fluvial River Severn model is being used to develop the Fluvial Severn Strategy which the EA plan to publish in spring 2003.